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The Perspective Archive Signs
Signs of relief. M. Night Shyamalan has made it clear in this film that he has be influenced mainly by two great directors...Hitchcock and Speilberg. Shyamalan agains places himself in another movie he has done, along with numerous Spielberg moments ( mostly the cute kind with the well cast kids, kinda poltergeist meets ET ). This flick has an unusual flow of cuteness, uncomfortability, and philosophical intrigue. I applaud the the different camera angles that leave you uncomfortable and anxious for the eventual outcome. But it seems the philosophical side of the flick weighed down a few scenes. Gibson plays a reverend whom loses faith because the death of his wife...so the movie uses that as the underlying theme and makes you think where you stand in the ideas of faith...not necessarily of the religious type. In the end, "Signs" is worth a definite watch and think. Signs -- Road to Perdition
It's a scenic route. Tom Hanks and Paul Newman play supporting roles to the stylish scenes and imagery that make this film a must see. "Road to Perdition" will not overwhelm you, but it keeps your attention with a good story, good acting, and very impressive cinematography. Tom Hanks plays the lead character Michael O' Sullivan, a loyal hitman for the boss ( played by Newman ) and who is also a good family man. Sullivan's work-life and family-life collide to create the journey this film is all about...the path that events in life begin you on. The path the Sullivans end up on, has them meeting a ruthless hitman played by Jude Law ( whom I believe is an underappreciated actor ). Jude is almost a scene-stealer in this movie and should someday win an oscar. Even with Jude's performance the backdrop of Depression era Chicago will actually get the awards from the Academy. Road to Perdition -- Reign of Fire
A few sparks, but no fire. Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey seem suitably cast as the heros, the dragons were well done FX wise, but the story and character development needed some lighter fluid to spark more excitement and intrigue. "Reign of Fire" falls short, sadly too because the idea, or plot, was really good. Chicks will go, oooh and aaahh...over the bulked up McConaughey, but most will begin to yawn before the credits begin to roll. ROF will be an HBO flick you end up watching because you're too lazy to goto blockbuster. Reign of Fire --
Minority Report
The report is in...it's good! Cruise and Spielberg team up for the first time to create a summer blockbuster. They pull it off. Minority Report is intriguing and eye-catching. Cruise plays DC pre-crime supercop John Anderton, a broken man from the loss of his son...now a determined backer of the pre-crime system that was not in place when his son was killed. The story picks up with the pre-crime unit coming under investigation to see if it has flaws, soon after, Anderton seems to have been framed. But the pre-cogs are never wrong...right? The pre-cognitives are the ones that lay isolated in a chamber visualizing the future for the police ( basically slaves to their psychic abilities ), and apparently they are never wrong...or are they. That is where the Minority Report comes into play, hey I can't explain everything ( see the flick ). Anyway, I was kept interested until the credits rolled, ...but was not overly amazed to feel I had to watch over and over. Minority Report -- The Bourne Identity
A kick-ass good flick! Matt Damon is establishing himself as a can't miss actor, you can now check off "kung-fu action bad-ass" as something he's done succesfully. One thing is almost for sure, once an actor gets a taste of the kung-fu bug, they usually rattle off a few more action movies...becuase the pay is good...you stay in shape...and you get the girl ( see Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and Wesley Snipes...I believe Wesley hasn't made a movie not involving beatin the crap outta someone since Major League...hey Wes, put down down the Andro-shake brother! ). Anyway, The Bourne Identity keeps you interested mainly with cool action sequences with a European backdrop. It avoids the usual predictability and surprises with some intelligence. Franka Potente, playing Marie ( Damon's hookup chick ), is well cast and grows on you thru the flick. What can I say, it's a must see. The Bourne Identity -- Insomnia
No sleep should be lost if you missed this one. Al Pacino and Robin Williams, ahhh, a couple of Academy Award winners, ahh, the Director of "Momento"...ugh, a sleeper of a flick ( meaning a couple of yawns will occur ). I'll admit that I'm a sucker for the same character Pacino plays in 70% of the flicks he's done, but this time it didn't do it for me ( sorry Al ). I can't say the flick was bad, it just didn't wow me or intrigue me much. The idea of the movie is cool, mostly revealing how people deal with the constant daylight of living in Alaska, and why they would move there in the first place. But the story was mostly predictable, and the characters were less than appealing. I'd say it's worth a rent, but don't lose any sleep over not picking it up. Insomnia -- Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a success! Tobey Maguire was well cast as the dorky science guy turned superhero. The flow of the story kept you into each scene with no wasted moments, which is perfect for a comic book script that does not need to over-dramatize...well maybe the part Peter Parker spills his guts to Mary Jane was a little much. Kirstsen Dunst and her breasts play the role(s) of Parker's love interest(s) , the girl-next-door ( literally ) Mary Jane Watson, well. William Dafoe is perfectly cast as the Green Goblin, but at times seems to over do the bit of the psychotic scientist...but what do I know, I'm not psychotic...and I'm not a scientist. It doesn't matter, Spider-Man is a movie you goto the movies for...it's not an Oscar winner, just a good time. Spider-Man -- Star Wars - Attack of the Clones
The force obviously was not with Lucas on this one! The previews displayed amazing special effects and great battle scenes...and that is about all you got outta this episode. Somebody needs to pull the pen out of George's hand so he doesn't attempt to write the story for Episode III...please!!! Yes, Lucas and his band of FX geeks thrill you with light-saber scenes, spaceships, landscapes, etc, etc...but George falls dreadfully short with his ability to keep you interested in the story. If it weren't for Yoda, Obi-wan ( perfectly cast with McGregor ) and Natalie Portman, than this DVD would make a good coaster for your coffee table. Only the annoying Jaja-Binks, does a worse job in Episode I, then Anakin Skywalker ( played by Hayden Christensen ...) in this Episode. I became irritated by Anakin's presence towards the end. When you look back on the movie you realize how much more the Princess was courageous/cunning than Anakin was...and he's got the force with a light-saber backing him up. Ahh...so again...please George, put down the pen and slowly back away. Star Wars - Attack of the Clones
Blade II A disapointment!! Damn, I was hoping Blade II would be a close experince as the original, but not. Yes, the movie had some cool ideas and some cool effects, but came fataly short in story and intelligence. Maybe the bigger disappointment was why Wesley Snipes did not have some kinda sunglasses endorsement with this film. His loss! He wears them thru the whole flick. Anyway, when you do catch this on HBO, you'll at least check out the chick, one hot vampire. I cannot be too hard on this movie bcause it had some great ideas, it just did not deliver. I guess they ruined a really great theme. ...Here is a tip re-rent the original. Blade II -- We were soldiers 
A Tribute. A movie that not only pays tribute to the men that went to war for the states, but also the women that had to stay home home with the kids. This flick makes you realize the sacrifice people make in times of war. Whether you are at home or in the the trenches. Either way this movie is a must to see. Mel Gibson plays the guy that leads the first bloody battle in Vietnam. And damn its bloody! Unlike "Desert Storm" and Afghanistan, the Americans take some casualties. These guys go there to fight for our freedom, but some of us morons decide to spit on some when they come home. That is not shown in the movie, thankfully. But this film gives you a great feel of how it was like out there, much like "Platoon" did over a decade ago. Anyway, a must see at the theaters. We were soldiers --
A Beautiful Mind The Great John Nash!! Ron Howard finally lives up to his reputation as a great director. Russell Crowe gives, what has been becoming the usually terrific performance, as a brillant student turned obssesed person of achieving something extrordinary. John Nash must achieve something that nobody else has before him, a new algorythmn. But the price becomes a question of what is important to him. Family or fame? What do you choose? What John John Nash chooses makes the movie special and worth while to see at the theaters. Another stand up and cheer film, a first for Ron Howard. A Beautiful Mind -- Black Hawk Down 
Awesome!!! Ridley Scott overdoes himself in recreating the "snatch and run" operation that goes horrifically wrong in Black Hawk Down. A new respect for the U.S. Rangers and elite Delta Force is forged while observing this film. Watching these men carry out their mission under extreme conditions reminds you how far and above U.S. Forces are in training, skill, and most importantly loyalty. "Leave no man behind" are the words that define this movie and the bind that holds together each man in these special forces. So many scenes leave you astounded, whether its a soldier running thru a bullet-filled intersection, or the rescue of a downed pilot, or the guys that made it back to base just to turn around and head back into hell, so to speak, to rescue fallen mates. Black Hawk Down is the fastest 2 hours and 20 minutes I've ever experienced, you cannot leave your seat, or even the edge for that matter. To not see this film in the theaters would almost be an unjustice. One of the few movie experiences you want to stand and cheer at the end!! Black Hawk Down --
Ali Ali scores a TKO. The trifecta of Will Smith as Ali, Jon Voight as Howard Cossell, and Michael Mann's great direction of the Ali legendary bouts - was a splendid combo. A "bulked up" Will Smith was a perfect fit to portray the greatest heavyweight and trash-talker of all-time. Especially the trash-talking which Will made his staple in the movie. The surprise of the film was the casting of Jon Voight as the tough-question-asking journalist/broadcaster- Cossell. Voight, doning alot of make-up, was a superb fit and a scene stealer at times. The interaction scenes of Ali-Cossell were arguably the best of the film. But not so fast, Michael Mann's depictions of Muhammad's fights were spectacular and not over-the-top. With unique angles, sounds, and sights, these scenes were the movie. Though the fights were eye-catching and Smith and Voight being superb, Ali does fall short of a knockout. With one long drawn-out run thru the streets in Zaire and the lack of dates with the historical moments in his life, the film could have used some polishing. Ding-Ding. Ali --
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Majestic!! Unbelievable!! Classic!! Star Wars finally has an equal. Little-known director Peter Jackson will quickly rise to elite status after transforming the historic fictional trilogy of elves, hobbits, orcs, wizards, and such...from text- to the big screen. "Middle-Earth" is perfectly depicted by Jackson with breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring scene imagery. The cast was great, especailly Ian McKellen as Gandalf the humble and powerful wizard of the fellowship. Frodo, the tiny hobbit who must lead the fellowship, was played wonderfully by Elijah Wood. Everybody was great! As great as the cast was, the film's images might be considered works of art. This film will bury DVD records two-fold, when it hits the shelves a year from now. Anyway, this movie is a must see at the theaters...I'll be in line again very soon. The only negative that I could possibly draw is waiting 12 months for part two-- "The Two Towers". 364..363..362.. Fellowship of the Ring -- Vanilla Sky Cameron Crowe can do no wrong! Crowe puts on display again his two stamps on the film industry that no-one else can touch...personal relationships and music. Tom Cruise is tapped again as a Crowe leading man (jerry maguire), this time as David Aames. Aames is the guy that supposedly has it all- looks, women, money, everything...right? But when Sophia (penelope) enters his world, things completely change and David thinks he's found something special- but a mistake could cost him his new found love. Penelope is mesmerizing to say the least, Cameron Diaz is no slouch, but when they were both in a scene...I didn't notice Diaz. Diaz played David's sex friend, or least that what Dave thought of the relationship, she on the other hand demanded more...can you say Fatal Attraction. Anyway, Crowe goes beyond his usual tugs on the heart strings and gets philosophical on us, asking- what is happiness? He asks another question at the end, but you'll have to see it for that one. The only knock, on what could have been a classic, is Crowe's overuse of music in parts. Sure Crowe is great at selecting songs for his flicks, but he could have taken a tip from Stanley Kubrick and let silence speak for itself at times. Just a slight criticism on a very good film. Vanilla Sky -- Ocean's Eleven Ocean's Eleven could have used one more. All-star cast including Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Roberts, Garcia, and Cheadle. All-star director in Steven Soderbergh. Classic story of the likable thieves attempting the big heist. This movie had it all...except one thing, living up to the great expectation. I don't like goin to a flick expecting something, but I made the mistake this time. This film was just missing something, most likely character development. The characters were intriging and interesting, but you didn't get enough of each one to really enjoy the story. Two I could have done with out were Pitt's and Julia's characters, maybe a little more background might have helped there. Well on the good side, the flick is fun, makes you laugh, and keeps you interested. But...could have been better. Ocean's Eleven -- Spy Game Spy game is no roll of the dice. This flick gives an intriguing look into the espionage genre. For whom do you side with, become loyal too, or love -if you are a spy? The government? Your fellow spy friends? Or the rare loved one? That seems to be the underlying theme of this intelligent action thriller. The story goes like so...Tom Bishop (pitt) gets captured in China trying to bust someone out of jail, Nathan Muir (redford),the guy who originally recruited Bishop, then attempts to ensure his safety by misguiding CIA bigwigs. Muir then, while simultaneously calculating misdirection, continually briefs the bigwigs on past missions he and Bishop were on. These scenes have a similar reflection to "Diehard", in which the authorities seem to always be a step behind. Anyway, it makes Redford's character look like he should be sitting on the opposite side of the bosses desk. What is good about the film are the flashbacks to the old missions; Vietnam, Germany, Beirut. Not saying the rest is not, but I thought it just got a little "too cute" in the end. Also, I'd like to see what would happen if the movie went another 20 minutes. Spy
Game
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Training Day Training Day makes the cut. Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke deliver their usual good performances in a story that keeps you interested just enough to make the grade. The story is simple, Jack Hoyt ( hawke ) gets a one-day shot of making the Narcotics squad, led by Alonzo Harris ( washington ). Jack, the "wet-behind-the-ear" rookie, quickly feels uncomfortable by Alonzo's coarse nature and bending-the-rules tactics. Soon enough, Jack feels he's gotten into something that might be bigger than him, or at least, out of his control. But as the film moves along, some ideas just did not click for me. Though I would watch it again, I will not be because it was incredibly compelling. Training Day passes, but does so on the curve. Training Day -- Serendipity Ser-en-dip-i-ty \ n: good luck in finding things not sought for. The formula for a good romantic comedy must have a realistic romantic couple with good chemistry, a unique setting, and good humor. Serendipity passes all three. Cusack, with newcomer Kate Beckinsale - who has that girl-next-door-look ( actually English ), make for a great couple. Then with a "Christmas in New York" backdrop to open the movie - for the Serendipitous encounter with fate, you are easily set to understand the special circumstances, which eventually unfold. Jonathan's ( cusack ) likable personality and his best pal played by Jeremy Piven make for some funny moments, but maybe the funniest part was the analysis of Lars's ( Sara's boyfriend ) music video - you'll have to watch to understand. All and all a very likable movie, which i'd watch again. Serendipity -- American Pie 2 Slow start, but still plenty of fun. The whole crew is back for AP2, though it is not as great as the original-- it still was a good time. The gang finishes their freshmen year and looks forward to three months of summer fun. After a brief stop home they wind up at a lake house for a season of partyin and babe-chasin. The film begins slow, kinda reintroducing everyone along with the familiar side stories, but it begins to grow on you half-way thru. Though it comes up short in the hilarious scenes like the original had, it does have it's share of good scenes-- usually the "Stifler" ones..of course. Stifler dominates the movie like before, but the "Finch" scenes become a real bore. Overall it was fun, but not "watch over and over again", it also did not have the memorable Stifler quotes that everyone loved to blurt out loud ( "suck me beautiful!" ). American Pie 2 --
Planet of the Apes Kinda fun, kinda laim. "Planet of the Apes" imagery, special effects and overall look, keep you interested in a re-made story that gives you nothing new/exciting to leave you fully entertained. Tim Burton again displays his amazing ability to create a world not of this Earth or of this time, but the amazing ends there because I couldn't tell if the PG-13 rating was for the violence or for the intelligence of the story/script. If you are going to remake a classic sci-fi story, try to show something more other then better costumes and effect. Tim Roth saves the cast in this flick by playing "Thade", the human-hating commander of the ape army. Thade is great at intimidation and creeping you out, and in my mind almost steals the movie. On the other side, Mark Wahlberg portrays the gung-ho, lost astronaut Captain Leo Davis, who rallys the suppressed humans of the ape run planet. Too bad Mark had to follow Mr. Heston. Anyway, if you have to enjoy imagery and special effects at the theater go ahead, but i'd say wait for video, or go out re-rent the original. Planet
of the Apes
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The Score No extra points after "The Score" . Vanilla ice cream, grilled cheese sandwich, bowl of bran flakes...no I'm not describing what my daily diet is, just giving you an idea of what a bland meal might entail. "The Score" had the cast to be great, but certainly fell way short because of the lack in originality and intrigue. Robert De Niro and Edward Norton were great in their roles, but with a plain vanilla script and/or storyline, the film leaves you wanting more. With the well worn out story of "the veteran thief doing one last heist for the money" being used, you expect some new twists and angles to separate the movie from others, but the twists don't spin and the new angles are never seen. Then just when you sit up in your chair for the real excitement to begin, the credits start rolling...the lights turn on. Wide right...sure the movie gets to the endzone and satisfies you to a point, but the lack of pazaz, so to speak, leaves you disappointed. The Score
--
Scary Movie 2 A few good laughs, but didn't come close to the original. Scary Movie 2, did not have the same creativity, clever spoofs and outrageously funny scenes that made the first such a hit. The cast consisted of: the characters that survived the original and "Brenda ", ( the girl that got stabbed to death in the movie theater ) somehow resurrected for the sequel, plus a few well-known actors/celebrities doing cameos ( James Woods was the best as the Exorcist ). But even with the more veteran comedic actors like Chris Elliott, Andy Cross and Andy Richter, the scenes seem to fall short too many times. It becomes obvious, thru the flick, that the lack of a descent theme or script hurts the flow and enjoyment of the experience. Especially unenjoyable is the Chris Elliot character "Hanson", whose scenes just try too hard to be funny...when they aren't. Then you throw in Tori Spelling whom is especially brutal as an actress and Scary Movie 2 almost falls flat. Saving the movie were a few scenes that held it up from being a flop, so it's worth a one-time rent from the movie store...but I'd still rather watch the original again. Scary Movie 2
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Bridget Jones's Diary Made for a woman, but good enough for a man! No, it's not a flick about deoderant, it's about a single English chick that decides to be more aggressive in finding a good man. Renee Zelwegger puts on a few pounds, adds a British accent, and gives probably her best performance as an actress. Bridget begins her quest for her equal by writing her thoughts and events of the day in a ....you guessed it, a diary. She also tries exercise, skimpier outfits and more assertive flirting techniques. Bridget tries to change her quirky ways in an attempt to court a better man, but it's her quirkiness and silly nature that make her who she is. Hugh Grant plays the suave boss who first notices Bridget's new found attractiveness. One thing leads to another, but is this just a fling or the real thing. Bridget's adventure thru singledom and independence is funny and mostly cute. Her quirky ways make this story and movie...a fun experience. Bridget Jones's Diary -- Memento You wake up..goto the bathroom..take a shower..brush your teeth..grab some-sort of breakfast..and your off to work.....why ? Did someone tell you to do such things? You work..make money to pay the bills..come home for dinner with family or you go out with friends..goto bed....why ? Is this routine part of a long-term goal? What gives you reason for the things you do each day? For Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce ( LA Confidential ), life is all about finding the man that mudered his wife, mainly because that is the last thing he remembers. You see, at the time Leonard's wife was offed, he was struck in the head and suffered brain damage that resulted in short-term memory loss. So now he remembers everything up to that incident and only about 15 minutes worth since. So you ask, how can he track a killer if he is constantly losing his memory? Mementos, silly rabbit! And lots of them. Leonard takes notes, pictures and even tattoos his body so he knows what is true and what to do next. This film is fascinating in how a man with little memory can survive, let alone pursue a killer. So does Leonard find the killer, gee I can't remember...here's a memento, see the movie. Memento -- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon The greatest martial arts film ever!!! If you were to combine Jackie Chan, The Matrix, one of those cheesy-dubbed martial arts flicks from the late 70s, with a dash of Excalibur...I give you Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. With a fun story and "hands-down" the most unbelievable martial arts fight scenes ever, this movie will astound you. Now you cannot go into this flick with a serious face and you'll realize this with the first fight scene, just imagine a "Matrix" scene. This movie is fun, not Academy Award winning, well maybe for special effects. The story is simple, as long as you keep up with the subtitles, Li Mu Bai ( Chow Yun Fat ) is the greatest fighter in Ancient China and ponders giving up his craft for his love Yu Shu Lien ( Michelle Yeoh ). Li Mu Bai's first step towards love is to give up his sword, called "Green Destiny", to a friend. Well, such a sword of value cannot be just left around to collect dust...so it's immediately stolen...and the adventure begins. So with an anticipation for fun, great fight scenes and some amazing landscape imagery of China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a blast. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- Cast Away Cast Away before I was ready. This movie needed a little more, I'm not sure what, but the end came before I was ready for it. Tom Hanks has another Oscar worthy performance as Chuck Noland a FedEx troubleshooter whom has to leave his girlfriend during the holidays for a trip over the pacific. Well you know what comes next, Chuck finds himself stranded on a deserted island in which he quickly realizes he might not be found. Director Robert Zemeckis does a great job of making you feel alone with Chuck Noland on the island and in the back of your head your thinking how woud I get food..water? Chuck does a great job of adapting to his surroundings and the resources that wash ashore...by the way, did you know this is a true story? I believe the previews reveal too much about the film and I could have enjoyed the experience a little more because of that. The imagery of the island and the attempt to leave the island via raft is worth seeing this flick in the theaters, otherwise wait for video. Cast
Away -- Dude, where's my car Dude, it could have been a little funnier. Have a couple drinks before watching this one, it makes it a little better, trust me. What saves this movie from being just a star is...it had some cool ideas but just did not deliver like it could have. "Stifler" and "the guy from the 70s show", play a couple of stoners that try to retrace what they did the night before so they can locate their car. Well, as you can tell from the previews, they had a wild evening. I can't say anything else about the flick without giving away what little spunk it has, so wait for HBO and have ready a couple cold ones. Dude,
where's my car
-- Unbreakable Do you know your role in life? That seems to be the underlying question in this story in which the "average joe" named David Dunn , played by Willis, begins to be asked this by a stranger he meets after Dunn's miraculous train wreck survival. The stranger turns out to be Ilijah Price, a man with "Brittle Bone" disease, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Price reaveals to Dunn that he has always looked out for someone that could be just the opposite of himself, someone that is almost Unbreakable. With this meeting of someone just the opposite of himself, Dunn begins to question his past and the constant denial of what could be supernatural ability. What comes next is why you see the movie. Like "the Sixth Sense", Director M. Night Shyamalan does a wonderful job of completely surpising you in the end. Don't worry about any kid with a famous line like "I see dead people" to be repeated after the movie is over. But there is a cute scene where Dunn and his boy go downstairs to "work out", but it seems like Dunn does all the work ( the scene is very Spielberg like ). Wanring, don't go into this movie expecting Biblical experiences or superhuman highlights, it's not on that level. It's a simple story of a simple man of whom has to realize his not so average future. Unbreakable -- Men of Honor Oscar worthy? Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. deliver wonderful performances! De Niro plays the grizzled Master Chief Billy Sunday who is a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type character whom you're not sure is a good guy or a bad guy. While Cuba stars as Carl Brashear the "never say I can't have it" guy that attempts to become the Jackie Robinson of the U.S. Navy deep sea diving unit. The majority of the movie takes place at the diving school in the mid 60s, but segregation is not popular in the Navy just yet. So you can figure out some of the side stories already. The story plays like this..Carl Brashear discovers his destiny of becoming a Master Chief diver after witnessing Billy Sunday on one of his rescue missions, from there Carl's journey entails rigorous training multiplied by racial tensions. Well, the story is ok, it has its usual cliche scenes that do some tearjerking and gung-ho fullfillment. But the reason the movie is a must see is because De Niro and Cuba work great together. I believe both are worthy of Oscar nomination for their roles, but maybe only Cuba gets the consideration because De Niro has played roles more challenging than this one before. One itch that needed to be scratched was Billy Sunday's wife Gwen, played by Charlize Theron, how did these two get together? There are a few more itchs that hurt the movie, but in the end De Niro and Cuba are the movie, two talented actors being showcased. Men of
Honor --
Bedazzled Funny and Sexy! Brendan Fraser is great! And yes, Elizabeth Hurley is hot! Well that is basically the whole movie, you won't be giving this movie a "thumbs up" because of a compelling story. But you will want to see it at least one more time because Fraser is that good and Hurley will have you Bedazzled. Fraser plays a computer geek ( Elliot Richards ) with horrible social traits which leaves him lonley and in need of some appreciation. Gee, you know what happens next right? Hurley, playing the Devil ( oh my ), preys on Elliot's obvious weakness of loneliness and grants him 7 wishes. What comes next is what makes this movie. Fraser's ability to play out the numerous characters that come with each wish is awesome, then you throw in the fact that Hurley wears a different skimpy outfit with each scene is just too much! When you're not laughing at Fraser's antics you're checking out "the Devil", and she's soooo bad. Well, the movie dips when it tries to get serious and some scenes are just not as good as others. But I say go see this flick because the good scenes are that good. Oh yeah, did I mention that Hurley wears skimpy outfits? Bedazzled -- Almost Famous A romance with music! After Jerry Maguire, Cameron Crowe established himself, in my mind, as a guy that doesn't make a bad movie ( at least not yet ). Almost famous is a triumph of a film about music, love and "being real". This movie has arrived at a time when over-hyped types Brittany Spears, N'SYNC and Backstreet Boys, have sufficated audiences with more flash than substance. How refreshing this film and ,more importantly, the soundtrack is. This movie is more of a platform of how music can capture and seize a moment in life. Oh yeah, there is a story. A 15-year-old named William, inspired by his sister whom left behind a collection of rock albums, begins a career writing about the music he loves. William soon makes friends with groupies and a rock band that he eventually joins on tour. While on this journey William finds himself learning about being professional and discovering what love is about. But what this film gives, is a continous stream of touching moments which always seem to include the perfect song for the moment, a trait Crowe has proven in his previous films Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire. Maybe the most heartfelt point in the movie is when Elton John's "Tinydancer" is the song of the moment. What was especially touching for me was hearing the very much underplayed Zeppelin songs that captures a few scenes in the film. Anyway, this is a must see and more importantly-- A MUST LISTEN. Almost
Famous -- Whipped Can you say Swingers? Well, Swingers is the king of singles guy movies, but Whipped is hilarious and a must see. The Whipped premise is four guys getting together every sunday at a diner for brunch to tell about their sexual exploits of the weekend. These diner scenes are "wipe away the tears" funny! Well, things are going great for these guys until one special lady, Mia played by instant star Amanda Peet, intervenes to wreck havoc on the perfect single guy world. Mia somehow charms three of them, one guy is married, into thinking she is that special one. The guys start bickering among one another "she's mine!", "she likes me more!", "you're an asshole!" and friendship begins to dwindle. Well, that's all I'm saying about the story, don't like to ruin the unpredictability. Yeah, guys would probably enjoy this movie more than chicks, but I believe in the end chicks would like it also. Whipped -- The Cell Ahhh, Jennifer Lopez in a movie, that's one star right there. Alright, don't get too excited, she keeps her clothes on. So Jennifer is alot to look at in this flick but not the only thing. The Salvador Dali style imagery which is displayed in dreams is much for the eye to behold. These fascinating dream sequences is what gives you the reason to watch this movie again ( well Jenny could be another reason ). Jennifer Lopez plays Catherine Deane, a social worker who has joined a scientific experiment which entails her to communicate with a child thru a mind to mind medium. The ante is upped for Deane when she is asked to enter the mind of a serial killer because it's believed the killer has a victim trapped somewhere, inevitably scheduled to die in 40 hours, and the FBI has no clue where the victim could be. Vince Vaughn plays the "I always get my man" Agent Peter Novak, whom persuades Deane to "take one for the team" and enter the demented mind of Carl Stargher ( played by Vincent D'Onofrio ). Well I'm sure you can imagine that Mr. Stargher's mind is not like anyone else's. This guy is a real sicko! There will be some definite squirmish scenes when watching this guys world of sickness. Well, when you're not oggling over Jen and not fascinated by the dream sequences, you notice some obvious holes in the story. When leaving the theater you'll find yourself scratching your head wondering-- did I really like that movie? I believe this movie could have been done better, or at least, have more story to work with. But it's still worth seeing at the theater. The
Cell --
Hollow Man A sci-fi horror film that wows you with unbelievable special effects and grosses you out with gruesome death scenes. That basically sums up "Hollow Man". Kevin Bacon plays the self-consumed "mad scientist" Sebastian Caine, whom has to be the first human to become invisible. Well after Sebastian becomes invisible, you guessed it, he enjoys it and isn't fond of giving it up so soon, to the government that is. You see, this is a government project and once the project was found to be a success it should have been turned over to the military. Well things go wrong and it gets bloody, yes this is a horror movie too. If you're not wild about the sight of blood-- don't go to see this flick, hell the very first scene a rat is chomped and all you see is the blood squirt and trickle to the floor. Yum. Anyway, the only reason to goto the theaters to see this film would be for the amazing special effects that are displayed when Sebastian turns invisible. It is strictly a special effects/hack'em up flick, so if you're into that, then catch a matinee. Oh yeah, Elizabeth Shue needs to go back to the long, straight hair. Hollow
Man -- Me, Myself and Irene This is the straw that broke the camel's back, wait check that, the camel that broke the Straw's back. This movie BLEW!!! And I'm a Jim Carrey fan, but the only good thing he achieved in this flick other than a few good laughs and stunts was a future wife ( him and Renee Zellweger could be engaged by now ). I found myself hoping for Jim to have some hilarious scenes but the story and plot were just so weak there was nothing he could have done to give this movie two stars. And oh my, the "cow scene" was just so bad I even felt embarrassed. Please, If I were you I would wait for this flick to show on HBO to watch it, I would say TV, but on TV they would probably edit out the truly funny few parts of the movie. Actually, I know they would because what almost steals the movie are the scenes of Jim Carrey's sons who are these African-American guys whom have no relation to Carrey's character ( Charlie/Hank ) and curse throughout the whole movie in a way that is funny. Oh in case you do not know, Carrey's character has a split personality of a "nice guy/tough guy". The redeeming part of the flick comes when both personalities battle each other towards the end. So if you can hang in there till then, enjoy. Me,
Myself and Irene -- X-Men I had fun, but I wasn't wowed. I enjoyed learning about each X-Mens' unique powers and the stories behind them but an imbalance in the overall story took away from the film. X-Man "Wolverine" is quickly made the star of the X-Men while the others get little attention to their background, if any. When you're not waiting for Wolverine to kick some more ass than you're probably waiting for another scene with either Patrick Stewart who plays X-Men leader Professor Charles Xavier or Sir Ian McKellen who plays the bad guy leader "Magneto". These two are arguably the most powerful of the mutants and obviously the best actors in this movie of no-names and babes. I applauded the fact that Halle Barry ( "Storm" ) had about three lines and was almost choked to death by Sabertooth, one of the bad guys. Anyway, I did enjoy the movie but again wasn't wowed, the film just seemed to miss a little luster that would have given me reason to see it again. What the movie didn't miss on is the fact that they obviously set up the ending for a sequel. I believe the sequel will be better, all they would have to do is have Wolverine kick a lot more ass and have Storm killed off. Wait, check that, have Barry strip first, then have her character killed off. X-Men
-- Scary Movie "Scary Movie" is Hilarious! I haven't laughed so hard since "American Pie"! Oh yeah, it just might even be funnier! I'll know when I go back to see it at the theaters for the second time! "Scary Movie" is a buffet of movie spoofs, with the most obvious ones being: "Scream", "The Matrix" and "The Sixth Sense". But in this movie anything is game, including the "WHAAAASSSUUUUPP!!!!" commercials. By the way, that scene is, you guessed it, hilarious! This comedy manages to keep the laughs coming and then some. Just when you thought you laughed as hard as you could, you find yourself wiping away the tears! I believe what makes this flick so good is the way the numerous spoofs are intertwined throughout the film. And it's not all goofy/cheap humor, there's some cleverness to some of the scenes and spoofs. I must say the final spoof, which I won't say, makes the movie. Anyway, I say go out and enjoy some good laughs with "Scary Movie"! Scary
Movie --
The Perfect Storm It's worth watching at the theaters. I say that because most people already know the fate of the "Andrea Gail" crew. "The Perfect Storm" is about a fishing crew from Gloucester, Massachusetts that sets back out to the North Atlantic one last time to score a big catch of swordfish before the winter season arrives. What happens next is obvious, the captian and crew get a little 'gung ho' and attempt to battle the "Storm of the Century" to get back home. The movie starts trying to pull the tears out of you before they even get out onto the water, come on already enough with the cliches'. Well once the film gets you out onto the water it begins to get fun. I would have just given the movie a star and a half, but what gives it one more are the Coast Guard scenes. The Coast Guard is most likely proud of this film in how it shows the courageousness of the officers who attempt to rescue sailors stuck in the storm. I found myself waiting for the next Coast Guard rescue scene instead of the "Andrea Gail" scenes. If it weren't for the the great special effects of the rescue scenes I'd say wait for video, but instead, give it a look at the theaters. The
Perfect Storm -- Shaft A fun and entertaining movie. Samuel L Jackson stars as Detective John Shaft ( nobody could fit the character better ) the nephew of the original Shaft ( played by Richard Roundtree, who plays his uncle ). Now sure, we have seen the tough guy detective role played numerous times before, but Shaft does things a little differently. Throughout the movie Shaft fluctuates from smooth talking to kicking somebody's ass, always in a cool way though. Shaft prides himself on handing out justice by the way of law or by his own way ( usually beaten the crap outta somebody ). Also appearing in the film are Vanessa Williams as another detective, Busta Rhymes in the "Leo Getz" role ( Joe Pesci - "Lethal Weapon" ) of the whining civilian side-kick, and there's a cameo by a well-known NFL Hall-of-Famer. Towards the end of the movie, Busta Rhymes's constant whining grows on you. The movie actually feels like one long television episode, which could explain for the lack of character building. You learn very little about Shaft, his co-workers and the bad guys. Especially, Wade played by Christian Bale ( American Psycho ), he merely smirks and acts like the silver-spoon bully that he is. That's just one instance of character unappreciation. Well, lets remember this is just a fun movie, not one that shoots for the Oscar. Shaft
-- American Psycho Horrifying and Hilarious! A classic black comedy which will eventually turn cult classic. This film has a unique ability to create laughter at the most odd times. You'll find yourself tickled in humor right before someone meets there demise, in usually a most gruesome way. Patrick Bateman is well cast as the 80's self-centered wall street yuppie whom only seems to be truly happy when he's brutally murdering some unsuspecting victim. The supporting cast of Reese Witherspoon as the fiance' and William DaFoe as the unsuspecting Detective are the only notables. One of the ways this movie is funny is that all the characters seem abnormal in one way, it's just that Bateman happens to be a homicidal killer in his spare time, does this make him psychotic? Ok, now for the good stuff, what gives this movie the hilarious portions are the scenes in which, Bateman in a unique pre-murdering ritual, breakdowns an artist's album in detail like a BillboardTop 20 music critic. You'll find yourself wiping away the tears while the psychotic Bateman describes the musical talents of such artists as "Huey Lewis and the News", Whitney Houston and Phil Collins. Unbelieveable! Yes, this movie is not for everyone, for the faint of heart re-rent "Pretty Woman". Also, it's not a movie you can watch start to finish over and over again, but it does have those special moments. When you combine good comedy and horror into one film, I give you American Psycho. American Psycho --
The Bone Collector Your typical-- "gruesome serial killer vs the cunning relentless detective"-- movie. Oh yeah, Angelina Jolie is in it also, what a babe! Well she doesn't take her clothes off, but she does do a good job of convincing you she's a stubborn young officer. This while Denzel does his usual outstanding job, this time as the "Holmes" like detective who is bedbound because of near-fatal injury sustained during an investigation. Basically, when you're not puzzled by the killer's clues-- Denzel is demanding your attention. The film makes an event of "Walking the grid" or in English, analyzing the crime scene. The cinematography of these scenes is the backbone of the movie. Well if you're a guy you might get distracted by constantly waiting for Jolie to wear something revealing, but in the end, a good detective story is always fun to watch. The Bone Collector -- Gladiator A brilliantly done Epic film about the great Roman General Maximus played by Russell Crowe. The imagery of Ancient Rome is enough to see the movie at the theater. Then there are the breathtaking battle scenes which ,are at times, more graphic than Braveheart. With the addition of chariots and tigers in the grusomely realistic fights in the Coliseum, it makes the battle scenes of this film the best in movie history. The film also has a good supporting cast with Joaquin Phoenix as the "spoiled brat" Commodus, Connie Nielson as Lucilla, Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius ( the father to Commodus and Lucilla ) and Oliver Reed as Proximo ( the slave owner who stumbles upon the heartbroken Maximus). With all these accolades, the one aspect this film lacks is the emotional one. It seemed that the imagery of the film and Crowe's performance dominated your attention, which took away the efforts of the supporting cast and your emotional attachment to each character ( whether hate, passion, fear or mourning) . With that in mind the unbalance of "Gladiator" leaves it an obvious notch below "Braveheart". Gladiator --
Being John Malkovich A classic film! John Kusack plays a struggling puppeteer ( Craig Schwartz ) who gets a new job, from his wife's suggestion, at a quirky company as a filer to make ends meet. At this job, which is oddly on the 71/2 floor of an office building, he stumbles upon a small door that happens to be an entrance into 'being John Malkovich'. After this unbelivable discovery, Schwartz's life and the movie take some wild twists and turns. I don't want to say anymore about the story because I could ruin the unpredictable aspect of the film. For you dualists ( believer of mind/body separation ) out there this is a movie for you. The best scenes, I believe, are the ones when Malkovich is playing himself with someone else. You'd understand when you saw the movie. Anyway, "Being John Malkovich" is a must see film, with a little bit of everything. Being John
Malkovich --
Instinct A gripping and thought-provoking film. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr. And the premise of the film "Do we actually act on instinct?", makes you wonder about your everyday behavior-- 'do I do what I want?' or 'do I do what's expected of me?'. Hopkins plays the noted anthropologist Dr. Ethan Powell , whom is found deep in an African jungle living among a family of apes, after being missing for two years. Powell is then shipped back to the U.S. where he is then to be evaluated by the upstart psychologist Dr. Thoe Caulder played by Cuba Gooding Jr, whom is pushed by Ben Hillard ( Donald Sutherland ) to further his career. Caulder's first challenge, in his study of Powell, is to get him to speak. Caulder also finds a challenge in adapting to the prison environment in which he has to work in. Now the challenge for us is to remember that Caulder is the main character in this movie not Powell, but Hopkins presence is so dominant you find yourself waiting for his next scene. What takes away from this movie though is the puzzling relationship of Powell and his daughter Lyn ( Maura Tierney ). I was still left quizzical at the end trying to understand his behavior towards his daughter. But with that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this film because of the great acting and a premise that made me think. Instinct --
Mission Impossible II If you enjoy an action-packed, super special-effect movie with a babe, well then MI2 is for you. Tom Cruise is back as super-spy Ethan Hunt , and yes, there are plenty of 'impossible' scenarios much like the first movie. I already knew going into the movie that the director John Woo would have Cruise shooting at people while diving thru the air, it's a trademark of his movies. Anyway, the film will wow you with great stunts and special effects, also the rock-based soundtrack gave the movie a hard edge unlike the previous one. Thandie Newton plays the babe , or thief Nyah Hall, and does a very good job of looking good ( I couldn't tell you how well she acted because I wasn't really paying attention to that aspect of her ). Ving Rhames returns as Hunt's computer wiz Luther Stickwell and Anthony Hopkins appears as Hunt's spy boss, both have relatively small roles. Well let's get down to it, you will be thoroughly entertained with the MTV like style of the movie ( lots of action, rock music, babes ) but after awhile the 'impossibility' of all the stunts and scenarios wears on you. Does everything have to come down to the last second? Does everything have to be a near-miss? Come on! Sorry, I like just a little realism in my unrealistic movies. Mission Impossible II --
Road Trip
If you're looking for American Pie part II, then you'll be most disappointed. Road Trip has a few good laughs, but not enough to say this is a good comedy movie. The plot of the movie is basically a videotape that a certain girlfriend can't see which spawns a road trip to rendezvous with the tape before it is discovered. The story and a lot of the jokes turn out to be very predictable. Tom Green, who makes his film debut, plays the "student who's in school forever" role and only gets laughs as the school tour guide. Then there's "Stifler" of American Pie fame ( plays E.L. in Road Trip ), he gets his share of laughs but doesn't have the scene-exploding lines ( 'suck me beautiful!' ) like he did in A-Pie. The scrauny, nerdy kid Kyle, played by D.J. Qualls just might be the scene stealler in this movie. Kyle's frat party/hookup scenes are probably the best parts of the movie. But in the end the laughs are few and far between to go to the theaters for this one, wait for video. Road
Trip -- Reviews are based on a four star system |
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