Plot: Private detective Patrick (Casey Affleck) and his girlfriend/partner Angie (Michelle Monoghan) are hired by Beatrice (Amy Madigan) and Lionel (Titus Welliver) to find their missing niece, Amanda, who was abducted. Patrick and Angie work with Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman), a police officer who's own daughter was murdered decades earlier. Amanda's mother, Helene (Amy Ryan), is a woman deeply involved in drugs and criminal activity. As the search for the little girl continues, the danger and secrets revolving the little girl's disappearance surface.
Review: This is a really good movie. The plot is very well constructed. All of the characters in the film aren't superhuman. They're everyday people and they have their flaws. The film has its twists and keeps the audience engaged. The identity of the abductor and its accessories to the crime really surprised me. I especially liked the ending. It's not an entirely happy ending and of course I wish it would have been different, but it avoids the cliches.
The acting is also great. Casey Affleck shines as a leading actor. Morgan Freeman is also great as a cop who struggles with the deep guilt that he could have saved his daughter when he didn't and wants to save this young girl. Amy Ryan is absolutely fantastic as Helene. Her capability for an audience to have sympathy for what should be an unlikable character is amazing to me. The rest of the supporting cast is very good. In the special features on the DVD, several of the actors and extras are from Boston and the Boston area, where the film is set. I like that feeling of authenticity.
This is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery-thriller that will shock you with the twists. This film also has a timeless question which is: "where is home?". A great watch.
Rating: 5/5
Friday, 25 November 2011
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Coraline (2009)
Plot: Coraline is a 10-year-old girl who is ignored by her parents. They've moved to a new home. While exploring, she discovers a small door in the wall. One night, she follows a mouse and it leads her to the door. She opens it to discover a tunnel. Curious, she crawls in, to discover an alternate version of her real life, where her "new parents" worship her and a boy she meets in the world that she finds annoying mouth sewn shut. Coraline repeatedly visits the alternate world, enjoying herself. But she later discovers her "New Mother" has dark secrets that make the world she thinks is perfect a nightmare.
Review: Henry Selick directed this movie. He also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas so I had a feeling the film was going to have a horror feel to it. But I was very surprised at how dark the plot is. It's very creepy and scary and kids under 12 are probably going to find this film scary. This is based on a novel written by Neil Gaiman. What I love about the plot is that it takes a child's dream and turns it against them. We've all wanted at some point to have a better world than what we live in. And I like that they've taken this wish and turned it into something scary.
Another thing that I liked about the movie is that like traditional horror films, the alternate world Coraline's discovered appears innocent and amazing, but slowly and suspiciously we realize it isn't what it appears to be. So I like that feel of suspense.
I really liked the ending. Just when you think everything is good, something happens. The actual last scene is good because it gives the audience a happy ending, but the imagery used in the very last shot I really like because it gives that sort of feeling that it's not completely over. The imagery used also gives the possibility for a sequel.
The animation is beautiful and flawless. The film was released in 3D and in 2D. I like both film versions, but I think it would be better for young kids to see this in 2D. They might have a lesser chance of getting scared.
This is a great animated film. It's aimed to a certain age group. So I think parents should be cautious if they decide to watch this movie as a family. I like seeing an animated film that isn't entirely happy and goody-goody two-shoes like so many animated films are these days. So this feels really fresh.
Rating: 5/5
Review: Henry Selick directed this movie. He also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas so I had a feeling the film was going to have a horror feel to it. But I was very surprised at how dark the plot is. It's very creepy and scary and kids under 12 are probably going to find this film scary. This is based on a novel written by Neil Gaiman. What I love about the plot is that it takes a child's dream and turns it against them. We've all wanted at some point to have a better world than what we live in. And I like that they've taken this wish and turned it into something scary.
Another thing that I liked about the movie is that like traditional horror films, the alternate world Coraline's discovered appears innocent and amazing, but slowly and suspiciously we realize it isn't what it appears to be. So I like that feel of suspense.
I really liked the ending. Just when you think everything is good, something happens. The actual last scene is good because it gives the audience a happy ending, but the imagery used in the very last shot I really like because it gives that sort of feeling that it's not completely over. The imagery used also gives the possibility for a sequel.
The animation is beautiful and flawless. The film was released in 3D and in 2D. I like both film versions, but I think it would be better for young kids to see this in 2D. They might have a lesser chance of getting scared.
This is a great animated film. It's aimed to a certain age group. So I think parents should be cautious if they decide to watch this movie as a family. I like seeing an animated film that isn't entirely happy and goody-goody two-shoes like so many animated films are these days. So this feels really fresh.
Rating: 5/5
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
The Ring (2002)
Plot: They say there's a videotape that kills you seven days after you watch it. 16-year-old Katie dies suddenly, later being revealed she watched the tape prior to her death. Katie's maternal aunt, Rachel (Naomi Watts), who is a journalist, decides to investigate her niece's death after Katie's mother, who's Rachel's sister, asks her to. This leads Rachel to the cabin where Katie watched the tape. Rachel watches the tape. The phone rings and a voice says seven days. Rachel decides to discover the origins of the tape, getting help from an ex-boyfriend, Noah (Martin Henderson), who's the father of her 9-year-old son, Aidan (David Dorfman), who has been deeply affected by his cousin's death. But as Rachel goes deeper in the history, she puts herself in further danger.
Review: This is considered by many what started the string of Japanese horror remakes. But this is one of the better ones, if not the best one. I really, really liked this movie. The plot is very unique and interesting. It is confusing. This is one those movies that you can't leave without pausing. You have to focus in order to understand the plot and the clues. I really like the images that are used when Rachel and other characters are watching the tape. But again, you have to pay close attention in order to make the connections yourself.
The acting is pretty good too. Naomi Watts is very good as the heroine. Martin Henderson is also very good as Noah. David Dorfman is great at playing the troubled and slightly creepy yet innocent child. Daveigh Chase plays Samara, who is behind all of the chaos with the tape. She's very, very creepy and convincing in this role. She doesn't even appear on screen that much but she shines and sends chills down your spine.
The makeup effects in the movie are also very well done, especially with the bodies of those who were killed by the tape, like Katie and amongst others. It's very disturbing and very well done.
I will say that I really loved the twist in the end. The reason I liked it is because it isn't completely cliche, where you have a resolution but the problem hasn't completely gone away. That's what I like. But that ending also leaves the opening for sequels, which have been done.
Overall, a very creepy and suspenseful horror film. There are so many horror films that have been remade. I feel that since 2000 or so, horror films are constantly being remade. This is one of the better remakes. Check it out, it's worth it, unlike some remakes that I've seen.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is considered by many what started the string of Japanese horror remakes. But this is one of the better ones, if not the best one. I really, really liked this movie. The plot is very unique and interesting. It is confusing. This is one those movies that you can't leave without pausing. You have to focus in order to understand the plot and the clues. I really like the images that are used when Rachel and other characters are watching the tape. But again, you have to pay close attention in order to make the connections yourself.
The acting is pretty good too. Naomi Watts is very good as the heroine. Martin Henderson is also very good as Noah. David Dorfman is great at playing the troubled and slightly creepy yet innocent child. Daveigh Chase plays Samara, who is behind all of the chaos with the tape. She's very, very creepy and convincing in this role. She doesn't even appear on screen that much but she shines and sends chills down your spine.
The makeup effects in the movie are also very well done, especially with the bodies of those who were killed by the tape, like Katie and amongst others. It's very disturbing and very well done.
I will say that I really loved the twist in the end. The reason I liked it is because it isn't completely cliche, where you have a resolution but the problem hasn't completely gone away. That's what I like. But that ending also leaves the opening for sequels, which have been done.
Overall, a very creepy and suspenseful horror film. There are so many horror films that have been remade. I feel that since 2000 or so, horror films are constantly being remade. This is one of the better remakes. Check it out, it's worth it, unlike some remakes that I've seen.
Rating: 4/5
Ponyo (2009)
Plot: A little-fish girl named Brunhilde lives in an aquarium undersea with her father and numerous sisters. Curious about the world outside a bubble she's confided in, she goes exploring and washes ashore a fishing town and is rescued by a five-year-old boy names Sosuke. When her father retrieves her, she declares her name to be Ponyo and her desire to be human. She grows legs and arms, a consequence of when she licked human blood. She's releases her father's magic to make herself human and releases magics in the ocean, causing a tsunami. She then finds Sosuke and adapts to human society. Later in the film, Sosuke's home is covered by the ocean and go to find Lisa, Sosuke's mother who has yet to return home. They go through a tunnel, where Ponyo turns back into a fish. Her father takes them to the ocean, where a nursing home where Lisa works is protected. Sosuke is asked a question that will determine Ponyo's fate.
Review: This is the Japanese version of The Little Mermaid. The plot is pretty much the same thing as The Little Mermaid, except the characters are much, much younger. The plot is fairly simple and will appeal to kids. It's the least complicated of Miyazaki's plots.
Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, who are siblings of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, voice Ponyo and Sosuke respectively. So I have a feeling that kids are going to want to see this movie for that very reason.
This is a great family movie. Kids can be entertained by the beautiful animation and there's even enough substance in the film so that adults won't get bored. This isn't my favorite Miyazaki film, but it's not a weak link in his long list of masterpieces. This reminds me of My Neighbor Totoro, which is also one of his more family-friendly movies that's mainly aimed to kids, but also has enough substance for adults to enjoy. Both of these are great movies for the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is the Japanese version of The Little Mermaid. The plot is pretty much the same thing as The Little Mermaid, except the characters are much, much younger. The plot is fairly simple and will appeal to kids. It's the least complicated of Miyazaki's plots.
Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, who are siblings of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, voice Ponyo and Sosuke respectively. So I have a feeling that kids are going to want to see this movie for that very reason.
This is a great family movie. Kids can be entertained by the beautiful animation and there's even enough substance in the film so that adults won't get bored. This isn't my favorite Miyazaki film, but it's not a weak link in his long list of masterpieces. This reminds me of My Neighbor Totoro, which is also one of his more family-friendly movies that's mainly aimed to kids, but also has enough substance for adults to enjoy. Both of these are great movies for the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Plot: The Grinch (Jim Carrey) is a creature who lives in a cave on Mount Crumpit, located above Whoville has a heart two sizes too small and has always hated Christmas. The citizens of Whoville fear the Grinch. Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) is a young Who who isn't scared of the Grinch and wants to help him enjoy Christmas. She invites him to a Christmas feast in Whoville, which goes horribly wrong at the end. He wishes he could stop Christmas from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, covered in snow looking like Santa, the Grinch comes up with an idea. He disguises himself as Santa and Max as his reindeer. The Grinch steals everything from the Whos and waits for their cries. But they celebrate anyway, with the Grinch now realizing Christmas isn't made of material things. The sleigh he had made to get all of the gifts almost falls off the cliff. But his heart has grown three sizes because of this realization and his heart growing gives him the strength to stop the sleigh. He returns everything to Whoville and participates in the holiday feast.
Review: This is a live-action version of the famous children's book. The plot changes in this version compared to the 1966 TV special. We're given a background of the Grinch. We're given a background of his upbringing and the reason why he became so cruel. I actually like that we see some background on his character. But then again the only reason they added the extra footage is because they needed to stretch the film's length. Another thing I didn't like about the plot itself were all the gags that they put in that I didn't think we're entirely necessary. I understand that Jim Carrey is a great comedy actor, but plenty of the gags I found a little annoying.
Anthony Hopkins does the narration for this and I actually really like it. Jim Carrey portrays the Grinch and I think he does a great job. The Grinch is more comical than you'd expect but he makes it work. I also enjoyed Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who. The rest of the acting was decent. There are a wide variety of new characters including Augustus (played by Jeffrey Tambour), the mayor who bullied the Grinch during their youth. Martha (played by Christine Baranski), the Grinch's longtime crush and Augustus' love interest. I didn't find the majority of the characters, except the Grinch and Cindy Lou, sympathetic. I don't know if that was the intent but either way I didn't really care for the other characters except the two of them.
I'd like to point out the makeup, costumes and set decoration that was done in this film are very impressive. The Grinch and the Whos makeup was very well done. The costumes they wear I actually believe make sense for the kind of world they live in. The same goes for the set design. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup and were also nominated for Set Decoration and Costumes. Well-deserved nominations and win.
Overall, this remake of the Grinch is entertaining and is funny. But I also found certain aspects of the film to be annoying. But this is still a movie that I like to watch during the Christmas holidays.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: This is a live-action version of the famous children's book. The plot changes in this version compared to the 1966 TV special. We're given a background of the Grinch. We're given a background of his upbringing and the reason why he became so cruel. I actually like that we see some background on his character. But then again the only reason they added the extra footage is because they needed to stretch the film's length. Another thing I didn't like about the plot itself were all the gags that they put in that I didn't think we're entirely necessary. I understand that Jim Carrey is a great comedy actor, but plenty of the gags I found a little annoying.
Anthony Hopkins does the narration for this and I actually really like it. Jim Carrey portrays the Grinch and I think he does a great job. The Grinch is more comical than you'd expect but he makes it work. I also enjoyed Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who. The rest of the acting was decent. There are a wide variety of new characters including Augustus (played by Jeffrey Tambour), the mayor who bullied the Grinch during their youth. Martha (played by Christine Baranski), the Grinch's longtime crush and Augustus' love interest. I didn't find the majority of the characters, except the Grinch and Cindy Lou, sympathetic. I don't know if that was the intent but either way I didn't really care for the other characters except the two of them.
I'd like to point out the makeup, costumes and set decoration that was done in this film are very impressive. The Grinch and the Whos makeup was very well done. The costumes they wear I actually believe make sense for the kind of world they live in. The same goes for the set design. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup and were also nominated for Set Decoration and Costumes. Well-deserved nominations and win.
Overall, this remake of the Grinch is entertaining and is funny. But I also found certain aspects of the film to be annoying. But this is still a movie that I like to watch during the Christmas holidays.
Rating: 3.5/5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Plot: The Grinch is a creature who lives in a cave on Mount Crumpit, located above Whoville has a heart two sizes too small and has always hated Christmas. He wishes he could stop Christmas from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, covered in snow looking like Santa, the Grinch comes up with an idea. He disguises himself as Santa and Max as his reindeer. The Grinch steals everything from the Whos and waits for their cries. But they celebrate anyway, with the Grinch now realizing Christmas isn't made of material things. The sleigh he had made to get all of the gifts almost falls off the cliff. But his heart has grown three sizes because of this realization and his heart growing gives him the strength to stop the sleigh. He returns everything to Whoville and participates in the holiday feast and cuts the roast beef.
Review: What can I say about this special? It's a Christmas classic that has been treasured for decades and will continue to be treasured for decades to come. It's a simple story with well done animation. I love Boris Karloff's narration (he also voices the Grinch). A very well made special that shows us kids and everyone alike the true meaning of Christmas. A short TV special that's always enjoyed by the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Review: What can I say about this special? It's a Christmas classic that has been treasured for decades and will continue to be treasured for decades to come. It's a simple story with well done animation. I love Boris Karloff's narration (he also voices the Grinch). A very well made special that shows us kids and everyone alike the true meaning of Christmas. A short TV special that's always enjoyed by the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Red Eye (2005)
Plot: Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is taking a red-eye from Dallas to Miami. She then meets Jack Rippner (Cillian Murphy) and they have drinks while waiting to board their delayed flight. On the plane high in the sky, Rippner reveals he's an operative terrorist who is planning to assassinate a worker for Homeland Security. He's staying at the hotel where Lisa is acting manager. Rippner needs her help to make the assassination happen. Rippner tells her if she doesn't do what she's told, her father will be killed.
Review: This is a very good psychological thriller. Firstly, what I like about the plot is that the film's main focus is between Rippner and Lisa. A great portion of the film is just the two of them, just talking. They're talking when they're waiting for their delayed flight, they talk while on the plane (which is for a great part of the film) and they're talking near the film's ending. To be able to make two people talking suspenseful and thrilling is quite an accomplishment.
The acting in the film is also great. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy work really well together. With McAdams and how she portrays Lisa, you want to comfort her when she cries and you clap when she stands strong towards Rippner. That's one aspect that I love about this character. That she's a strong female lead, but also vulnerable and has her own inner demons. Cillian Murphy is very good as Rippner. He's able to pull off the charming persona and the frightening and smart terrorist. Brian Cox plays Lisa's father, Jack, and I thought that for the limited amount of screen time he was on, he did a good job. We have a variety of recurring and minor characters and they all blend in the film well without taking away from the main focus. Some of these minor and recurring characters also add humor to the film which I like because there's so much tension and drama going on between Lisa and Rippner that I like that we're able to see these minor characters and laugh.
Wes Craven, known for his horror films, directed this thriller, which is outside of his comfort zone. He did a great job and I like that there certain shots that add to the suspense of the movie and keeps the tension going.
This is one of my favorite psychological thrillers. Some might not say it's the greatest and I can agree that it's probably not the greatest psychological thriller because it does have certain flaws. But this is still an entertaining and intense thriller that should be able to please moviegoers.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is a very good psychological thriller. Firstly, what I like about the plot is that the film's main focus is between Rippner and Lisa. A great portion of the film is just the two of them, just talking. They're talking when they're waiting for their delayed flight, they talk while on the plane (which is for a great part of the film) and they're talking near the film's ending. To be able to make two people talking suspenseful and thrilling is quite an accomplishment.
The acting in the film is also great. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy work really well together. With McAdams and how she portrays Lisa, you want to comfort her when she cries and you clap when she stands strong towards Rippner. That's one aspect that I love about this character. That she's a strong female lead, but also vulnerable and has her own inner demons. Cillian Murphy is very good as Rippner. He's able to pull off the charming persona and the frightening and smart terrorist. Brian Cox plays Lisa's father, Jack, and I thought that for the limited amount of screen time he was on, he did a good job. We have a variety of recurring and minor characters and they all blend in the film well without taking away from the main focus. Some of these minor and recurring characters also add humor to the film which I like because there's so much tension and drama going on between Lisa and Rippner that I like that we're able to see these minor characters and laugh.
Wes Craven, known for his horror films, directed this thriller, which is outside of his comfort zone. He did a great job and I like that there certain shots that add to the suspense of the movie and keeps the tension going.
This is one of my favorite psychological thrillers. Some might not say it's the greatest and I can agree that it's probably not the greatest psychological thriller because it does have certain flaws. But this is still an entertaining and intense thriller that should be able to please moviegoers.
Rating: 4/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)