Monday, November 22, 2004
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
Featuring: Denzil Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber
Brief Synopsis: An army hero to be vice president. But is all what is seems?
Comments: First and foremost, don't watch this film for a good night out. However if you are into consipiracy theories and all that that entails, this is right up your street. It is well done thriller, with the layers of suspense packed onto occassional lingering scary images (how can anyone not wince at the drilling scene) and excellent acting. As a viewer you really can't fault the effort of the director or actors or script writers but I really just couldn't enjoy this well paced film. The viewer is certainly drawn into the life and dilemmas of Ben Marco and his fellow soldiers but fun it aint.
Thing to learn from this film: Is there anything under that scar on your back?
Rating: 4/10
Featuring: Denzil Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber
Brief Synopsis: An army hero to be vice president. But is all what is seems?
Comments: First and foremost, don't watch this film for a good night out. However if you are into consipiracy theories and all that that entails, this is right up your street. It is well done thriller, with the layers of suspense packed onto occassional lingering scary images (how can anyone not wince at the drilling scene) and excellent acting. As a viewer you really can't fault the effort of the director or actors or script writers but I really just couldn't enjoy this well paced film. The viewer is certainly drawn into the life and dilemmas of Ben Marco and his fellow soldiers but fun it aint.
Thing to learn from this film: Is there anything under that scar on your back?
Rating: 4/10
Saturday, November 13, 2004
ALEXANDER
Featuring: Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto
Brief Synopsis: An Oliver Stone epic on the life of Alexander, King of Macedonia from a time gone by.
Comments: This is very long. Whilst I was cavtivated by the 3 hour epic Heat and intrigued by Lord of the Rings, Alexander made me want to leave the screen several times on account of how uninteresting the film is. Obviously it's not the intention of Oliver Stone and he does his best to get our attention with several subplots going on in Alexander's life - the parents bickering, his relationship with his best friend's thighs, his quest for expanding his kingdom resulting in the subsequent battle scenes. But it just doesn't hook the viewer for some reason. It felt like one long history lesson and like history lessons at school, you really didn't care that much - you can tell by the fact that I was sms-ing in the middle of the film. The actors do their job alright so I guess the fault lies with the way the story is told. However if you substituted Alexander for George Bush, it does make for more interesting viewing! One for historians to discuss, one for other people to dismiss.
Thing to learn from this film: Parents hold the key to their children's future. Scary!
Rating: 1/10
Extra comment (Celia)
Right, I've watched Alexander and boy was I disappointed. Not only it is 3 hours long, I find it to be rather dry with uninteresting scripts and story line. Overall, i think it's over-rated. I expected to be 'blown away' (like Randy Jackson) but it was just 'aw......for me'. Besides, where's Val Kilmer in the movie???? (Dez - it turns out he is the King)
Featuring: Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto
Brief Synopsis: An Oliver Stone epic on the life of Alexander, King of Macedonia from a time gone by.
Comments: This is very long. Whilst I was cavtivated by the 3 hour epic Heat and intrigued by Lord of the Rings, Alexander made me want to leave the screen several times on account of how uninteresting the film is. Obviously it's not the intention of Oliver Stone and he does his best to get our attention with several subplots going on in Alexander's life - the parents bickering, his relationship with his best friend's thighs, his quest for expanding his kingdom resulting in the subsequent battle scenes. But it just doesn't hook the viewer for some reason. It felt like one long history lesson and like history lessons at school, you really didn't care that much - you can tell by the fact that I was sms-ing in the middle of the film. The actors do their job alright so I guess the fault lies with the way the story is told. However if you substituted Alexander for George Bush, it does make for more interesting viewing! One for historians to discuss, one for other people to dismiss.
Thing to learn from this film: Parents hold the key to their children's future. Scary!
Rating: 1/10
Extra comment (Celia)
Right, I've watched Alexander and boy was I disappointed. Not only it is 3 hours long, I find it to be rather dry with uninteresting scripts and story line. Overall, i think it's over-rated. I expected to be 'blown away' (like Randy Jackson) but it was just 'aw......for me'. Besides, where's Val Kilmer in the movie???? (Dez - it turns out he is the King)
THE INCREDIBLES
Featuring: Craig T. Wilson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee
Brief Synopsis: The Parr family are forced into retirement but are slowly drawn out of their suburban life by mysterious waif-like lady.
Comments: A very enjoybable film but it lacked that special spark that would propel it into the absolute must see category. Maybe all the pre-film hype raised my expectations too high (you know hype is big if McDonalds' happy meals are involved) but I came out still wanting a little more (perhaps a bit harsh although this could also be due to the fact that I did catch a half past midnight showing). The storyline is very family orientated but that's not a bad thing when you consider the plot of something like Shark Tale. The film doesn't rely too much on spoofing either with jokes made from the situations that the characters find themselves in. However there is a very James Bond look to some scenes with the lifts and monorails coming very much to mind!
Thing to learn from this film: Capes are not a good idea in a superhero costume.
Rating: 8/10
Featuring: Craig T. Wilson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee
Brief Synopsis: The Parr family are forced into retirement but are slowly drawn out of their suburban life by mysterious waif-like lady.
Comments: A very enjoybable film but it lacked that special spark that would propel it into the absolute must see category. Maybe all the pre-film hype raised my expectations too high (you know hype is big if McDonalds' happy meals are involved) but I came out still wanting a little more (perhaps a bit harsh although this could also be due to the fact that I did catch a half past midnight showing). The storyline is very family orientated but that's not a bad thing when you consider the plot of something like Shark Tale. The film doesn't rely too much on spoofing either with jokes made from the situations that the characters find themselves in. However there is a very James Bond look to some scenes with the lifts and monorails coming very much to mind!
Thing to learn from this film: Capes are not a good idea in a superhero costume.
Rating: 8/10
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
TAXI
Featuring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Esposito
Brief Synopsis: Useless cop and fast talking/driving taxi driver team up to catch Brazilian bank robbers.
Comments: Don't watch this film. It's rare that a film is so bad that it makes me want to walk out in the middle of it but this managed to stir those thoughts into my head. I just couldn't enjoy it on any level. Sure there were fast car chases, sexy looking women (with one scene having the leggy bank robber searching the woman cop very throughly) and well those were pretty much the highlights. Bad script, the jokes didn't work for me, the supporting crew wasn't making the film any better and I find it very difficult to recommend this to anyone. Go and get the original French version instead - it's supposed to be a classic (or else it can't be much worse than this).
Thing to learn from this film: There is no Castro Street in Cuba.
Rating: 2/10
Featuring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Esposito
Brief Synopsis: Useless cop and fast talking/driving taxi driver team up to catch Brazilian bank robbers.
Comments: Don't watch this film. It's rare that a film is so bad that it makes me want to walk out in the middle of it but this managed to stir those thoughts into my head. I just couldn't enjoy it on any level. Sure there were fast car chases, sexy looking women (with one scene having the leggy bank robber searching the woman cop very throughly) and well those were pretty much the highlights. Bad script, the jokes didn't work for me, the supporting crew wasn't making the film any better and I find it very difficult to recommend this to anyone. Go and get the original French version instead - it's supposed to be a classic (or else it can't be much worse than this).
Thing to learn from this film: There is no Castro Street in Cuba.
Rating: 2/10
