Plot: An American nurse (Sarah Michelle Gellar) who is living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their lives and going to the next victim.
Review: This is one the earlier Japanese remakes and I very much enjoyed this film.
I did the like the film's plot in terms of the house itself, the curse and the history of the family and the reason behind the curse. But there are many different characters, all with different stories that connect to the house and the curse itself so I found it initially difficult to follow when I first watched it.
As I mentioned just now, there are a lot of different characters so I'll go through some of them very quickly. I do think the acting was good. Nothing really weak, but nothing really overly impressive either. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Karen, who is the main protagonist. I like Sarah Michelle Gellar and I think she did a fine job with what she was given. Jason Behr plays Karen's boyfriend, Doug and I think that and Gellar had good chemistry between the two of them. Grace Zabiskrie plays Emma, Matthew's mother who suffers from dementia. I think she was great in the role. Emma speaks very little and her facial expressions are fantastic. Yuya Ozeki plays Toshio, the eight-year-old boy who haunts his victims. Ozeki is terrifying in this. His facial expressions and the way he moves is very creepy and eery. There are other several characters, including Matthew's sister, a detective and several others. But I honestly didn't care for the rest of them so I don't want to bother going through them all. But I will say that everyone in this cast did a fine job.
I think the film's ending was great. I didn't really expect it when I first watched it, but I like the twist because it gives the opening to new films to being, which has been done since.
As for the scares, I do think that the majority of the scares rely on Ozeki's performance and his mother. They provide a good portion of the scares and they do them very well. It's not really something that will have you on the edge of your seat but might give you a jump or two depending on how you react to horror movies.
I did compare this movie to The Ring when I first saw it. I found The Ring to be just as confusing plot wise but The Ring is scarier to me and will make you jump more.
I think The Grudge is a suspenseful, entertaining and fun horror movie. And it's also one of the better Japanese remakes out of all of the ones I've seen.
Rating: 3.5/5
Sunday 26 February 2012
Jennifer's Body (2009)
Plot: Jennifer (Megan Fox) and Anita "Needy" (Amanda Seyfried) have been best friends since they were kids, despite the fact that Jennifer is a popular and beautiful cheerleader whilst Needy is insecure. When they're out one night, Jennifer is kidnapped by Low Shoulder, a band trying to make it big. They perform a ritual to sacrifice a virgin in exchange for fame and fortune. When they realize she isn't a virgin, they kill her and a demonic spirit possesses her. Jennifer uses her appearance to seduce her classmates then kills them. Needy discovers Jennifer is now a succubus; she's weaker when she's hungry and must eat flesh in order to survive. Will Needy be able to stop her?
Review: I enjoyed the movie itself, but isn't all that.
Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, who worked on Juno (2007) together, reunited to make this movie. I like the film's plot, it has a modern twist to demonic possession that I haven't really seen that much. What's also different is the religious aspect of demonic possession isn't really explored in this. So that is a new element because in almost every movie I've seen that deals with this, religion is a huge part of it. So it was a little different in that regard.
The acting is fine and fun. Megan Fox is actually very impressive in this. Jennifer isn't that much of a likeable to begin with- at least I didn't like her, I didn't find her that sympathetic even when she becomes possessed. Because Jennifer used her looks when she wasn't possessed and the demon inside her uses her appearance to its advantage in order to survive. Adam Brody plays Nikolai, the lead singer of Low Shoulder and I also think he was very good. Johnny Simmons plays Needy's boyfriend, Chip and I think he was fine as well. But Amanda Seyfried was the standout for me. I found her totally believable and the different personality changes in Needy herself when she's insecure and when later in the film she goes head to head with Jennifer.
It's a teen movie about possession so there's a good amount of blood, violence and sex. If you don't like any of that, don't bother watching this.
This film was written by Diablo Cody, who I'm a fan of. I like her witty and unique dialogue. I loved it in Juno. But with this, I didn't think it worked as well as it did with Juno. I think some of the dialogue was a little forced. Nonetheless, the dialogue was witty and funny at certain points, but I think the dialogue worked better in Juno. After watching Juno, Jennifer's Body and I've seen United States of Tara (the series Diablo Cody created) and I think that certain actors are able to pull off her dialogue and some aren't. I think my thoughts apply to certain actors in this film, which I won't bother naming.
Jennifer's Body is a fun and entertaining film, but I do think they tried a little too hard.
Rating: 3/5
Review: I enjoyed the movie itself, but isn't all that.
Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, who worked on Juno (2007) together, reunited to make this movie. I like the film's plot, it has a modern twist to demonic possession that I haven't really seen that much. What's also different is the religious aspect of demonic possession isn't really explored in this. So that is a new element because in almost every movie I've seen that deals with this, religion is a huge part of it. So it was a little different in that regard.
The acting is fine and fun. Megan Fox is actually very impressive in this. Jennifer isn't that much of a likeable to begin with- at least I didn't like her, I didn't find her that sympathetic even when she becomes possessed. Because Jennifer used her looks when she wasn't possessed and the demon inside her uses her appearance to its advantage in order to survive. Adam Brody plays Nikolai, the lead singer of Low Shoulder and I also think he was very good. Johnny Simmons plays Needy's boyfriend, Chip and I think he was fine as well. But Amanda Seyfried was the standout for me. I found her totally believable and the different personality changes in Needy herself when she's insecure and when later in the film she goes head to head with Jennifer.
It's a teen movie about possession so there's a good amount of blood, violence and sex. If you don't like any of that, don't bother watching this.
This film was written by Diablo Cody, who I'm a fan of. I like her witty and unique dialogue. I loved it in Juno. But with this, I didn't think it worked as well as it did with Juno. I think some of the dialogue was a little forced. Nonetheless, the dialogue was witty and funny at certain points, but I think the dialogue worked better in Juno. After watching Juno, Jennifer's Body and I've seen United States of Tara (the series Diablo Cody created) and I think that certain actors are able to pull off her dialogue and some aren't. I think my thoughts apply to certain actors in this film, which I won't bother naming.
Jennifer's Body is a fun and entertaining film, but I do think they tried a little too hard.
Rating: 3/5
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Over the Hedge (2006)
Plot: A scheming raccoon uses a family of forest creatures into helping him repay his debt to a bear. They scavenge for food in the new suburbs that came while they were hibernating. As he continues his scheme, he learns a lesson about family.
Review: This is an awesome animated movie. And just as a movie in general it's awesome.
What I love about the plot is that it gives us a perspective on the forest animal. And several different forest animals. In many films that go into animals, they focus on only one animal. In this, we have a raccoon, skunk, turtle, a squirrel, porcupines, cats, a bear, possums. It's a wide range and I like that. The film is basically gathering food. That's what drives the plot. Food and R.J. getting the food for the bear. That's what starts this film. And the writers and crew of this film make the gathering of food hilarious, touching and entertaining.
The human aspect of the plot is also very recognizable to the audience. We've seen the kind of human characters there are in this, like the president of the home owner's association who calls the exterminator.
The film is laugh out loud funny and will make kids and parents laugh. Hammy, the hyper squirrel, is a great provider of comedy. Stella the skunk is also a good comedy character. The entire cast of characters make you laugh.
I do think that the fact that many of the characters being voiced by comedians helps. Hammy is voiced by Steve Carell, Wanda Skyes voices Stella, Gary Shandling voices Verne and Eugene Levy voices Lou. All of these actors are comedians and I think that adds layers to the jokes used and makes the film funnier.
The film's jokes themselves are aimed at both kids and adults alike. And they will both laugh. They'll laugh because the animal's perspective of the human world has a sense of truth in it.
The characters in the film for the most part actually develop, especially R.J. I like that it's not just one character that develops throughout the journey. We have several characters who develop and become more into their own.
The film also has a heartfelt message that isn't delivered in an entirely cheesy way. It feels genuine.
Over the Hedge is an entertaining, funny and fun film for the entire family.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: This is an awesome animated movie. And just as a movie in general it's awesome.
What I love about the plot is that it gives us a perspective on the forest animal. And several different forest animals. In many films that go into animals, they focus on only one animal. In this, we have a raccoon, skunk, turtle, a squirrel, porcupines, cats, a bear, possums. It's a wide range and I like that. The film is basically gathering food. That's what drives the plot. Food and R.J. getting the food for the bear. That's what starts this film. And the writers and crew of this film make the gathering of food hilarious, touching and entertaining.
The human aspect of the plot is also very recognizable to the audience. We've seen the kind of human characters there are in this, like the president of the home owner's association who calls the exterminator.
The film is laugh out loud funny and will make kids and parents laugh. Hammy, the hyper squirrel, is a great provider of comedy. Stella the skunk is also a good comedy character. The entire cast of characters make you laugh.
I do think that the fact that many of the characters being voiced by comedians helps. Hammy is voiced by Steve Carell, Wanda Skyes voices Stella, Gary Shandling voices Verne and Eugene Levy voices Lou. All of these actors are comedians and I think that adds layers to the jokes used and makes the film funnier.
The film's jokes themselves are aimed at both kids and adults alike. And they will both laugh. They'll laugh because the animal's perspective of the human world has a sense of truth in it.
The characters in the film for the most part actually develop, especially R.J. I like that it's not just one character that develops throughout the journey. We have several characters who develop and become more into their own.
The film also has a heartfelt message that isn't delivered in an entirely cheesy way. It feels genuine.
Over the Hedge is an entertaining, funny and fun film for the entire family.
Rating: 4.5/5
Saturday 18 February 2012
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Plot: Cartman, Stan, Kenny and Kyle see an R-rated movie starring Canadians Terrance & Phillip. Eventually all the kids see it. The parents of South Park declare the kids are corrupted and declare war against Canada.
Review: I love South Park and this movie.
The plot does feel like a very long, musical episode of South Park. But what I like about the plot is that like the episodes, it deals with many different aspects of life including swearing and cursing, what's right for kids, what's the right thing to do altogether.
I like all of the songs used in the film. "Blame Canada" is absolutely hilarious and a highlight of not only the songs but the movie in general. What I like about the songs is that while they're over the top in terms of lyrics and such, it still feels appropriate for South Park. Maybe that's because South Park does and can go over the top.
There's a subplot where Kenny goes to Hell after his death and discovers Satan and Saddam Hussein are lovers and plan to take over Earth. I love the portrayal of Satan here. It's the exact opposite of what you'd expect. I'll even go as far to say that Satan is one of the more sympathetic characters in this, if not the most.
The parents of South Park aren't villainous even though they appear to be. They're trying to do what they think is right for the kids and realize that they've taken it too far. Even Satan isn't the villain. It's Saddam Hussein, who does get what's coming to him.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is an entertaining and hilarious animated film that will be appreciated by any South Park fan and I believe that this movie could suck you into the TV show as well. It's that good.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: I love South Park and this movie.
The plot does feel like a very long, musical episode of South Park. But what I like about the plot is that like the episodes, it deals with many different aspects of life including swearing and cursing, what's right for kids, what's the right thing to do altogether.
I like all of the songs used in the film. "Blame Canada" is absolutely hilarious and a highlight of not only the songs but the movie in general. What I like about the songs is that while they're over the top in terms of lyrics and such, it still feels appropriate for South Park. Maybe that's because South Park does and can go over the top.
There's a subplot where Kenny goes to Hell after his death and discovers Satan and Saddam Hussein are lovers and plan to take over Earth. I love the portrayal of Satan here. It's the exact opposite of what you'd expect. I'll even go as far to say that Satan is one of the more sympathetic characters in this, if not the most.
The parents of South Park aren't villainous even though they appear to be. They're trying to do what they think is right for the kids and realize that they've taken it too far. Even Satan isn't the villain. It's Saddam Hussein, who does get what's coming to him.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is an entertaining and hilarious animated film that will be appreciated by any South Park fan and I believe that this movie could suck you into the TV show as well. It's that good.
Rating: 4.5/5
Wednesday 15 February 2012
The Outsiders (1983)
Plot: When two poor teenagers, Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) and Johnny(Ralph Maccio), are assaulted by a gang called the socs, and Johnny kills one of the gang members, tensions begin to mount between the two rival groups.
Review: This is a great movie.
This is based off the novel by S.E. Hinton. What I like about the film's plot is that it's recognizable. We see the lives of those of high and low social statuses. Instead of the poor kids being stereotypical, we see that they're more intelligent than they seem to be and because of their experiences, they have a real sense of the world.
The film's acting is pretty solid.
C. Thomas Howell plays Ponyboy and I think he's a great lead. He's able to portray Ponyboy's intelligence, toughness, vulnerability and determination so well. Ralph Maccio plays Johnny and his portrayal of Johnny's desperation and determination to live a better life is marvelous to see. Rob Lowe plays Sodapop and I think his performance as a young man who doesn't want to live the life he was supposedly destined to live is incredible. Patrick Swayze plays Darry, Ponyboy and Sodapop's older brother and guardian. He was a standout for me, a man who wants the best for his family and that's what he lives by. Matt Dillon is Dally and I think he's also very convincing. Dillon was one of the standouts for me. The entire cast is talented and play their roles convincingly well.
All of the actors who play the Greasers have wonderful brotherly chemistry between them. It makes their bond just that much stronger and believable. It especially applies to the end when they loose on their own. The grief and pain they suffer from their loss makes you sympathize with them to a powerful extent.
The Greasers because you can see that they're misunderstood and judged. Some do and will act like the way people expect them to, but they have a layer underneath that makes them just as human as the rest of us. They're just as flawed as us, but they have their hopes and dreams that they want to fulfill.
This film is a realistic representation of poor teenagers and the hardships of adolescence when you're of lower social and financial status. But it's also a powerful representation of the hardships of life when you're from the wrong side of the tracks. And all you want is to be greater to prove the people that judge you wrong.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is a great movie.
This is based off the novel by S.E. Hinton. What I like about the film's plot is that it's recognizable. We see the lives of those of high and low social statuses. Instead of the poor kids being stereotypical, we see that they're more intelligent than they seem to be and because of their experiences, they have a real sense of the world.
The film's acting is pretty solid.
C. Thomas Howell plays Ponyboy and I think he's a great lead. He's able to portray Ponyboy's intelligence, toughness, vulnerability and determination so well. Ralph Maccio plays Johnny and his portrayal of Johnny's desperation and determination to live a better life is marvelous to see. Rob Lowe plays Sodapop and I think his performance as a young man who doesn't want to live the life he was supposedly destined to live is incredible. Patrick Swayze plays Darry, Ponyboy and Sodapop's older brother and guardian. He was a standout for me, a man who wants the best for his family and that's what he lives by. Matt Dillon is Dally and I think he's also very convincing. Dillon was one of the standouts for me. The entire cast is talented and play their roles convincingly well.
All of the actors who play the Greasers have wonderful brotherly chemistry between them. It makes their bond just that much stronger and believable. It especially applies to the end when they loose on their own. The grief and pain they suffer from their loss makes you sympathize with them to a powerful extent.
The Greasers because you can see that they're misunderstood and judged. Some do and will act like the way people expect them to, but they have a layer underneath that makes them just as human as the rest of us. They're just as flawed as us, but they have their hopes and dreams that they want to fulfill.
This film is a realistic representation of poor teenagers and the hardships of adolescence when you're of lower social and financial status. But it's also a powerful representation of the hardships of life when you're from the wrong side of the tracks. And all you want is to be greater to prove the people that judge you wrong.
Rating: 4/5
Wednesday 8 February 2012
The Parent Trap (1998)
Plot: Hallie and Annie (both played by Lindsay Lohan) are complete opposites who meet at summer camp and discover a shocking secret- they're identical twin sisters! As the girls bond, they decide to switch places. So Hallie goes to London as Annie to stay with their mom, Elizabeth (played by Natasha Richardson). And Annie goes to California as Hallie to be with their dad, Nick (played by Dennis Quaid). The girls decide to try and bring their divorced parents back together, but it may be a little difficult since dad is involved with a woman named Meredith (played by Elaine Hendrix).
Review: I love this movie. One of my favorite family movies.
This is a remake of the 1961 Disney film starring Hayley Mills. What I like about the film's plot is that it's a great balance of comedy and dramatic family dynamics. The first part of the film with the summer camp plot is absolutely hilarious and will make the kids laugh at the over the top pranks. But later in the film, we get funny and touching moments between the parents and the girls. Even though they're separate, it's very touching. And when they're all together and the truth has been revealed, it's very nice to see it all unfold in a respectful and touching matter.
The film's acting is fantastic. Lindsay Lohan is brilliant in both roles of Hallie and Annie. Both twins are completely distinct, from the way they speak, the way they move, eat etc. It does feel like two girls could be playing the parts because they're so different from one another. It's flawless.
Natasha Richardson is also very good in her role. I do wish there was more comedic scenes with her character because Richardson had good comedic timing.
Dennis Quaid is also very good in this. I think he had good comedic and dramatic timing as his character.
Elaine Hendrix plays Meredith and I think she makes a great villain and obstacle for the girls. She's very convincing in her role.
Ronnie Stevens plays Grandpa Charles, Elizabeth's father. I think he's very good in this but I wish he had scenes with both twins instead of just one of them. To see that connection between grandfather and granddaughters.
Lisa Ann Walters plays Chessy, Nick's housekeeper. She was probably one of my favorite parts of the movie. She has great timing and will make you laugh every time. Simon Kunz plays Martin, Elizabeth's butler. Just like Walters, he has great timing and make you laugh. The entire cast is well rounded and makes the film completely enjoyable.
The film is surprisingly 128 minutes long, but it doesn't feel like that at all. You're so into what's happening on-screen that you don't even notice that that much time has passed.
What I especially like about the film is that we really get the theme of family and what makes a family. Instead of going over the top, the film finds a nice balance between comedy and drama.
The Parent Trap is a hilarious, touching and entertaining movie for the entire family to enjoy.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: I love this movie. One of my favorite family movies.
This is a remake of the 1961 Disney film starring Hayley Mills. What I like about the film's plot is that it's a great balance of comedy and dramatic family dynamics. The first part of the film with the summer camp plot is absolutely hilarious and will make the kids laugh at the over the top pranks. But later in the film, we get funny and touching moments between the parents and the girls. Even though they're separate, it's very touching. And when they're all together and the truth has been revealed, it's very nice to see it all unfold in a respectful and touching matter.
The film's acting is fantastic. Lindsay Lohan is brilliant in both roles of Hallie and Annie. Both twins are completely distinct, from the way they speak, the way they move, eat etc. It does feel like two girls could be playing the parts because they're so different from one another. It's flawless.
Natasha Richardson is also very good in her role. I do wish there was more comedic scenes with her character because Richardson had good comedic timing.
Dennis Quaid is also very good in this. I think he had good comedic and dramatic timing as his character.
Elaine Hendrix plays Meredith and I think she makes a great villain and obstacle for the girls. She's very convincing in her role.
Ronnie Stevens plays Grandpa Charles, Elizabeth's father. I think he's very good in this but I wish he had scenes with both twins instead of just one of them. To see that connection between grandfather and granddaughters.
Lisa Ann Walters plays Chessy, Nick's housekeeper. She was probably one of my favorite parts of the movie. She has great timing and will make you laugh every time. Simon Kunz plays Martin, Elizabeth's butler. Just like Walters, he has great timing and make you laugh. The entire cast is well rounded and makes the film completely enjoyable.
The film is surprisingly 128 minutes long, but it doesn't feel like that at all. You're so into what's happening on-screen that you don't even notice that that much time has passed.
What I especially like about the film is that we really get the theme of family and what makes a family. Instead of going over the top, the film finds a nice balance between comedy and drama.
The Parent Trap is a hilarious, touching and entertaining movie for the entire family to enjoy.
Rating: 4.5/5
Darkness (2002)
Plot: A teenage girl, Regina (Anna Paquin) and her family move to a home in Spain. But she soon discovers the gloomy home has a dark past that threatens to destroy the family.
Review: I'm going to start this review by saying that this isn't the greatest horror movie I've seen. This is more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.
Firstly, the film's plot isn't anything that we haven't seen before. A family moves into a house with a dark past- how many times have we seen that? But what I found interesting about the film's plot itself is the representation of the dark itself as an entirely different being. It felt slightly fresh to me.
When I first watched this film, I will admit it was the first scary movie I had seen that actually scared me. I watch it now and I wonder how that came to be. The film does have a couple of decent scares, but nothing special that will leave you with goosebumps.
The film's acting is fine. Anna Paquin is really the only reason I wanted to watch this. I thought she was good, but not great. Stephan Enquist plays her younger brother, Paul, and I think he does the creepy kid role very convincingly. Those two were the only standouts for me. Lena Olin and Iain Glen play their parents and they're also okay in their respective roles. Other than Paquin and Enquist, the cast isn't that memorable unfortunately.
I'll admit that when I first watched Darkness I found it scary. When I saw it again, I felt more differently.
Darkness is a sometimes spooky and suspenseful film, but I feel that it's not entirely new but it kinda is in a weird way. I can't really explain it. But like I said in the beginning of the review, it's more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.
Rating: 3/5
Review: I'm going to start this review by saying that this isn't the greatest horror movie I've seen. This is more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.
Firstly, the film's plot isn't anything that we haven't seen before. A family moves into a house with a dark past- how many times have we seen that? But what I found interesting about the film's plot itself is the representation of the dark itself as an entirely different being. It felt slightly fresh to me.
When I first watched this film, I will admit it was the first scary movie I had seen that actually scared me. I watch it now and I wonder how that came to be. The film does have a couple of decent scares, but nothing special that will leave you with goosebumps.
The film's acting is fine. Anna Paquin is really the only reason I wanted to watch this. I thought she was good, but not great. Stephan Enquist plays her younger brother, Paul, and I think he does the creepy kid role very convincingly. Those two were the only standouts for me. Lena Olin and Iain Glen play their parents and they're also okay in their respective roles. Other than Paquin and Enquist, the cast isn't that memorable unfortunately.
I'll admit that when I first watched Darkness I found it scary. When I saw it again, I felt more differently.
Darkness is a sometimes spooky and suspenseful film, but I feel that it's not entirely new but it kinda is in a weird way. I can't really explain it. But like I said in the beginning of the review, it's more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.
Rating: 3/5
Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989)
Plot: Wallace and his loyal but silent dog, Gromit, make a rocket ship in the basement of the moon to go to the Moon and sample some of its cheese when they run out.
Review: I'm going to guess that the greater majority of people who read my blog haven't heard of this particular movie. It's an old animation film from England. Even if you haven't heard of it, you've probably heard of Wallace & Gromit.
This is the movie that started it all. What I like about the film's plot is that it's very eccentric and unique. A story about a quirky inventor and his silent dog that try to make it to the moon by building a rocket ship in their basement.
The film also provides some good laughs. But what really provides the laughs for me personally is Gromit. He doesn't speak, but his facial expressions are incredible and speak louder than any words he'd say.
This is Nick Park's (the creator) first Wallace & Gromit feature and if you've seen any of his other Wallace & Gromit shorts or the feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, you can tell that he's improved greatly since 1989.
I really like the attention to detail. Whether it's crumbs, the writing on a magazine cover, the sound of the paint falling onto Gromit's nose, the moon itself or the rocket, I found it all very focused and proved Nick Park's devotion to making this the greatest short film he could possibly make.
This is a short, fun and entertaining short for the family to enjoy.
Rating: 4/5
Review: I'm going to guess that the greater majority of people who read my blog haven't heard of this particular movie. It's an old animation film from England. Even if you haven't heard of it, you've probably heard of Wallace & Gromit.
This is the movie that started it all. What I like about the film's plot is that it's very eccentric and unique. A story about a quirky inventor and his silent dog that try to make it to the moon by building a rocket ship in their basement.
The film also provides some good laughs. But what really provides the laughs for me personally is Gromit. He doesn't speak, but his facial expressions are incredible and speak louder than any words he'd say.
This is Nick Park's (the creator) first Wallace & Gromit feature and if you've seen any of his other Wallace & Gromit shorts or the feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, you can tell that he's improved greatly since 1989.
I really like the attention to detail. Whether it's crumbs, the writing on a magazine cover, the sound of the paint falling onto Gromit's nose, the moon itself or the rocket, I found it all very focused and proved Nick Park's devotion to making this the greatest short film he could possibly make.
This is a short, fun and entertaining short for the family to enjoy.
Rating: 4/5
Monday 6 February 2012
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
Plot: Helen (Kimberly Elise) and her husband, Charles (Steve Harris) have been married for 18 years and seem happy. But everything crumbles when Charles tells Helen he wants a divorce and intends to be with his younger mistress, who's also the mother of his two children. Helen goes to her grandmother, Madea's (Tyler Perry) house after she's kicked out. Helen then tries to get her life back in order and begins to move on with Orlando (Shemar Moore), a truck driver.
Review: I really like this movie.
Firstly, what I enjoy about the plot is that it's recognizable to an extent. We know the kind of people in this film. Whether it's someone who is addicted to drugs, arrogant, sassy and loud, determined to get themselves back together, these are stories we've heard of and some have maybe even witnessed them. There are many different plots and a lot of characters and they're all relatable in some way. The same goes for the film's themes, like redemption.
The story is dramatic but we're provided with some great laughs. The main sources of comedy are Madea and Joe, both played by Tyler Perry. Madea and Joe make you laugh out loud at their over the top antics. It's great entertainment and never really gets old to watch Madea curse someone out or threaten to kick their ass as she says.
I enjoyed the film's acting. Kimberly Elise is a good actress and I think she makes a good, strong leading actress in this. Steve Harris does a fantastic job in this. His character is completely unlikeable and even after what happens to him, you don't feel entirely bad. Or at least I didn't. I figured that was his karma for his behavior. I also think Sheemar Moore did a fine job as Orlando and I think he and Kimberly Elise had good chemistry between them. Tyler Perry plays Madea, Joe and Brian and I think he did a brilliant job. He makes you laugh as Madea and Joe and will also make you draw sympathy for Brian and what's happening with his drug-addicted wife (played by Tamara Taylor, who is also very convincing as a struggling drug addict).
Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a touching and hilarious film, which is an unusual combination, but it works.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: I really like this movie.
Firstly, what I enjoy about the plot is that it's recognizable to an extent. We know the kind of people in this film. Whether it's someone who is addicted to drugs, arrogant, sassy and loud, determined to get themselves back together, these are stories we've heard of and some have maybe even witnessed them. There are many different plots and a lot of characters and they're all relatable in some way. The same goes for the film's themes, like redemption.
The story is dramatic but we're provided with some great laughs. The main sources of comedy are Madea and Joe, both played by Tyler Perry. Madea and Joe make you laugh out loud at their over the top antics. It's great entertainment and never really gets old to watch Madea curse someone out or threaten to kick their ass as she says.
I enjoyed the film's acting. Kimberly Elise is a good actress and I think she makes a good, strong leading actress in this. Steve Harris does a fantastic job in this. His character is completely unlikeable and even after what happens to him, you don't feel entirely bad. Or at least I didn't. I figured that was his karma for his behavior. I also think Sheemar Moore did a fine job as Orlando and I think he and Kimberly Elise had good chemistry between them. Tyler Perry plays Madea, Joe and Brian and I think he did a brilliant job. He makes you laugh as Madea and Joe and will also make you draw sympathy for Brian and what's happening with his drug-addicted wife (played by Tamara Taylor, who is also very convincing as a struggling drug addict).
Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a touching and hilarious film, which is an unusual combination, but it works.
Rating: 3.5/5
Saturday 4 February 2012
Mean Girls (2004)
Plot: Cady (Lindsay Lohan), a 16-year-old who has been homeschooled her entire life up until this point and lived in Africa, is attending public school for the first time. She learns about various cliques, including a clique known as the Plastics. Chaos soon ensues as Cady teams up with fellow outcasts to bring down the Plastics. But as she progresses more and more into ruining the Queen Bee, Regina (Rachel McAdams), Cady's act soon becomes a reality.
Review: I like this movie. It's probably one of the best teen movies I've ever seen and I'll tell you why.
Firstly, what I like about the film's plot is that it's totally relatable. It's relatable in terms of the characters and the situations in the film. We're reminded of the cliques and people in high school. When watching this, we can point out and say I knew someone like this or someone did something like this. Some might see this as a chick flick and a movie that only girls can relate to because the main focus about this movie for the most part is a high school clique. But it's much more than that. The film's story has a human element to it. It's about surviving. And in this film, Cady is trying to survive high school.
The acting is fantastic. This is considered Lindsay Lohan's breakout role and for good reason. She's incredible in this. This was her first film outside of Disney and a different demographic saw Lindsay's acting abilities and could see she was more than just another Disney kid.
Rachel McAdams wasn't really that well known when the film was released (The Notebook was released a few months after this came out. But some may recognize from The Hot Chick). Rachel McAdams' Regina is a cruel, vindictive person and you don't really sympathize with her at all. But McAdams' performance is still entertaining to watch nonetheless.
We have two other Plastics in the movie. Amanda Seyfried plays Karen and is absolutely hilarious in this as a naive and dim-witted teenager. You would hope that Karen is smarter than she appears to be and she really isn't, which I like because normally it turns out the seemingly dumb character is actually much smarter than they appear to be.
We also have Gretchen, played by Lacey Chabert. I find Chabert to be very funny. Gretchen is just as mean and cruel as Regina to an extent, but she's more sympathetic I find.
Lizzy Chaplan plays Janis and she is one of my favorite characters in the movie. Janis knows her flaws and she admits them, unlike many characters in the movie, including Cady. So that's why I like her.
Tina Fey plays the math teacher and I think she did a good job. I do wish we saw a little bit more of Tina in this. Tim Meadows plays the principal and I like his portrayal of a frustrated man.
Tina Fey is one of my favorite writers. She was still working at Saturday Night Live at this point and showed her writing chops to a bigger audience. The dialogue in this film is hilarious and makes you laugh nonstop. When I watch this, I compare it to the dialogue of Juno. Although there are differences, both films have a funny, sarcastic-toned dialogue which can also be very moving and effective. That's what made this film and Juno memorable to me. The dialogue written by the brilliant writers.
When I watch teen comedies, I feel that they've purposely dumbed the movie so that teenagers will like it. I mean some teen comedies are so dumbed down that it's ridiculous. But Mean Girls is an exception. Mean Girls is funny and smart, a combination that is rare in the vast majority of modern teen films.
Rating: 4/5
Review: I like this movie. It's probably one of the best teen movies I've ever seen and I'll tell you why.
Firstly, what I like about the film's plot is that it's totally relatable. It's relatable in terms of the characters and the situations in the film. We're reminded of the cliques and people in high school. When watching this, we can point out and say I knew someone like this or someone did something like this. Some might see this as a chick flick and a movie that only girls can relate to because the main focus about this movie for the most part is a high school clique. But it's much more than that. The film's story has a human element to it. It's about surviving. And in this film, Cady is trying to survive high school.
The acting is fantastic. This is considered Lindsay Lohan's breakout role and for good reason. She's incredible in this. This was her first film outside of Disney and a different demographic saw Lindsay's acting abilities and could see she was more than just another Disney kid.
Rachel McAdams wasn't really that well known when the film was released (The Notebook was released a few months after this came out. But some may recognize from The Hot Chick). Rachel McAdams' Regina is a cruel, vindictive person and you don't really sympathize with her at all. But McAdams' performance is still entertaining to watch nonetheless.
We have two other Plastics in the movie. Amanda Seyfried plays Karen and is absolutely hilarious in this as a naive and dim-witted teenager. You would hope that Karen is smarter than she appears to be and she really isn't, which I like because normally it turns out the seemingly dumb character is actually much smarter than they appear to be.
We also have Gretchen, played by Lacey Chabert. I find Chabert to be very funny. Gretchen is just as mean and cruel as Regina to an extent, but she's more sympathetic I find.
Lizzy Chaplan plays Janis and she is one of my favorite characters in the movie. Janis knows her flaws and she admits them, unlike many characters in the movie, including Cady. So that's why I like her.
Tina Fey plays the math teacher and I think she did a good job. I do wish we saw a little bit more of Tina in this. Tim Meadows plays the principal and I like his portrayal of a frustrated man.
Tina Fey is one of my favorite writers. She was still working at Saturday Night Live at this point and showed her writing chops to a bigger audience. The dialogue in this film is hilarious and makes you laugh nonstop. When I watch this, I compare it to the dialogue of Juno. Although there are differences, both films have a funny, sarcastic-toned dialogue which can also be very moving and effective. That's what made this film and Juno memorable to me. The dialogue written by the brilliant writers.
When I watch teen comedies, I feel that they've purposely dumbed the movie so that teenagers will like it. I mean some teen comedies are so dumbed down that it's ridiculous. But Mean Girls is an exception. Mean Girls is funny and smart, a combination that is rare in the vast majority of modern teen films.
Rating: 4/5
Thursday 2 February 2012
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Plot: Peter (Tobey Maguire) struggles with his personal life, which is now going downhill, as he battles a brilliant scientist, Doctor Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who becomes Doc Ock, after an accident causes him to be bound to mechanical tentacles that do his bidding.
Review: This is an awesome, awesome movie. I'll tell you why I think so.
First of all, the plot is fantastic and a big improvement compared to the plot of the first film. The second film's story touched on what I thought was wrong with the plot of the first film. In this, we see the burden that Peter is carrying with all of his responsibilities. I think the reason they focused on this more in the second rather than the first is because in the first movie, Peter was a high school student without a thought in the world. Now, he's in university, working and trying to fight bad guys as Spider-Man. All of that responsibility and stress has taken his toll on him where he decides to stop being Spider-Man. The plot has a human element to it that I think makes it much more relatable to audiences. We can relate to the fact that we just want to escape our responsibilities when they become too much, but ultimately we cannot escape what we are meant to do.
The acting is better than ever. I think that Tobey Maguire improved compared to the first film. The way he portrays Peter's inner turmoil when his life becomes a mess. Kirsten Dunst is just as good as she was in the first film. James Franco is also very good. I believed he improved since the first film greatly. J.K. Simmons is still highly entertaining as J. Jonah Jameson. But the standout for me was Alfred Molina, who plays Doc Ock. Doc Ock is a complex and entertaining villain. There are moments that we feel sympathy for Doc Ock and moments in which we hate him. Doc Ock and Molina's performance outshines Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the Green Goblin by a landslide. In the first film, you felt very little, if not, no sympathy for the Green Goblin at all. The Green Goblin is a soulless villain with no sympathetic qualities. Doc Ock is the opposite. Doc Ock's twisted sense of humor is also a nice surprising touch.
The film's special effects are amazingly impressive. We'll start with the obvious, which is the mechanical tentacles. They're extremely well done and very menacing. When you see them, you get chills. You're worried about what they'll do. Everything in the film visually is stunning. One effect that stood out for me was the train sequence where Spider-Man stops the train from crashing. I found that sequence to be intense and thrilling.
Spider-Man 2 is a phenomenal film.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is an awesome, awesome movie. I'll tell you why I think so.
First of all, the plot is fantastic and a big improvement compared to the plot of the first film. The second film's story touched on what I thought was wrong with the plot of the first film. In this, we see the burden that Peter is carrying with all of his responsibilities. I think the reason they focused on this more in the second rather than the first is because in the first movie, Peter was a high school student without a thought in the world. Now, he's in university, working and trying to fight bad guys as Spider-Man. All of that responsibility and stress has taken his toll on him where he decides to stop being Spider-Man. The plot has a human element to it that I think makes it much more relatable to audiences. We can relate to the fact that we just want to escape our responsibilities when they become too much, but ultimately we cannot escape what we are meant to do.
The acting is better than ever. I think that Tobey Maguire improved compared to the first film. The way he portrays Peter's inner turmoil when his life becomes a mess. Kirsten Dunst is just as good as she was in the first film. James Franco is also very good. I believed he improved since the first film greatly. J.K. Simmons is still highly entertaining as J. Jonah Jameson. But the standout for me was Alfred Molina, who plays Doc Ock. Doc Ock is a complex and entertaining villain. There are moments that we feel sympathy for Doc Ock and moments in which we hate him. Doc Ock and Molina's performance outshines Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the Green Goblin by a landslide. In the first film, you felt very little, if not, no sympathy for the Green Goblin at all. The Green Goblin is a soulless villain with no sympathetic qualities. Doc Ock is the opposite. Doc Ock's twisted sense of humor is also a nice surprising touch.
The film's special effects are amazingly impressive. We'll start with the obvious, which is the mechanical tentacles. They're extremely well done and very menacing. When you see them, you get chills. You're worried about what they'll do. Everything in the film visually is stunning. One effect that stood out for me was the train sequence where Spider-Man stops the train from crashing. I found that sequence to be intense and thrilling.
Spider-Man 2 is a phenomenal film.
Rating: 5/5
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