Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Last House on the Left, Nim’s Island
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I found this movie to be very strange because even though I didn’t completely like it, I have to admit that it’s well-made and daring. The reason why I didn’t buy the whole package is that there’s no reason for the film to run for two hours and thirty minutes. It took too much of its time setting everything up, to the point where I scratched my head and wondered where the story was going (or if it was planning on going anywhere at all). But once it gained its footing about an hour and fifteen minutes into the picture, it was very engaging because it was able to touch the macabre. A lot of the scenes are darkly amusing despite the murders perfomed by Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, brilliantly acted by Ben Wishaw. I’ve been curious about his acting abilities ever since I saw “I’m Not There” so it was nice to see him in this film as the lead and prove himself. The supporting actors such as Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman are great here because their characters are memorable and crucial to the picture. I feel like the two of them made the picture that much more serious and important. I also thought the idea of making a movie about the sense of smell is original; not to mention it has one of the most mysterious endings I’ve seen in a while. So, I must give kudos to the director, Tom Tykwer, who also directed some of the films I loved (“Paris, je t’aime” and “Run, Lola, Run”). However, I must say that some people oversell this flick. It’s a good movie but nothing extraordinary.
Last House on the Left (1972)
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
Even though this was released in 1972, it’s still really disturbing compared today’s standards (or lack thereof some might argue). This is Wes Craven’s first film and though it may seem really dated, it shows a lot of promise when it comes to its story. It’s a horror film and a revenge movie wrapped in one. There are three factors that holds this movie back: the comical scenes regarding the police, its low level of cinematography due to its low budget, and the amateur acting. The script is fine because I thought some of the dialogue was interesting to listen to; the direction and pacing are not that bad. I’ve had my share of violent pictures but when this movie’s teeth started to show, I couldn’t help but wince. After watching this film, it became apparent to me why this became a template for the slasher flicks that invaded the 1980′s. I’ve heard that this movie is going to have a remake and I can imagine that the upgrade will be just as violent or even more so. Hopefully, the remake will improve upon the flaws that this film had because despite its violence, its impact on the horror genre is undeniable.
Nim’s Island
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I always like children’s movies because I’m a kid at heart but this one is one of those few exceptions. There’s not much story that can be found here unless one would like to see fake animals helping out the characters. Even though I did enjoy watching Jodie Foster as an agoraphobic writer (her trip to the island was pretty funny), I feel like she could’ve been on a different (and better) movie than waste her talents here. I didn’t care much for Gerard Butler because I’m not a fan, but I didn’t care for his character either. On the other hand, I thought Abigail Breslin is pretty good and I like her in pretty much every movie she’s in. It’s hard for me to give this movie a bad rating because everything seems to be trying too hard. I agree that they have something here, but only a quarter of it worked. Maybe with a little more focused writing to improve the story and completely remove those distracting fake animals, this movie could’ve been something else entirely. This is more a children’s movie than a family movie because the film pretty much doesn’t offer anything to the adults. Overall, it’s a good movie if you’re babysitting and you want the kids to be quiet in front of the television as you prepare their dinner. Otherwise, it’s nothing terribly special.
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)
★★★ / ★★★★
This is a really good documentary about the history of slasher films because it was able to cover so much territory in a span of about ninety-minutes. That said, it failed to reach its full potential for several reasons. First of all, it focused too much on movies from the 1980′s, only quickly glossed over the 1990′s, and barely mentioned the 2000′s. Since this was released in 2006, I expected it to spend equal time discussing each decade because each one is as important as the other. Instead of talking about the special effects of smaller slasher films from the 1980′s, it could’ve analyzed the best slasher pictures such as “Halloween,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Scream.” For instance, putting the violence and sexual connotations aside (because it’s been talked about a million times before), they could’ve analyzed about how “Halloween” is more artistic than most horror pictures back then and even today, not just image-wise but also the use of music and suspense, especially with an extremely low budget. They could’ve delved into how “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is very different from typical slasher flicks because it’s able to relate to psychology and Eastern cultures–the role of dreams and internalized emotions in all kinds of society–and how it was able to make the violence aspect secondary. They also could’ve picked apart “Scream”–its post-modern attitude, how it juggled comedy and horror so well, and why it is one of the best horror movies ever made. I was also looking forward to the interviewees talking about the infamous “Hostel” and “Saw” pictures, but they rushed through them in under ten seconds. The movie became so alive when they showed newspaper articles and film critics, such as Siskel and Ebert, disapprove of slasher movies because they often show women being tortured to the point where it’s almost pornographic. In opposition, the documentary showed why the interviewees supported slasher pictures and their claims of such movies serving to empower women. I have my own opinions but it’s nice to see opinions clash because both sides bring up very interesting points–that there’s is no one “correct” side. This could’ve been a two and a half hour documentary and it could have been excellent. Instead, what I saw was a Slasher Movie 101 discussion so, unfortunately, I barely learned anything new.
Heat, Jaws, Breakfast on Pluto
Heat
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
It’s so exciting to watch Al Pacino and Robert De Niro being in the same movie let alone the same scenes. Even though this film is almost three hours long, there are more moments of brilliance that made me not want to blink in fear of missing a crucial piece of information. There are three stand out scenes in this picture: Pacino and De Niro’s diner scene, the bank robbery showdown, and the silent but epic final duel between the two leads. Those scenes made my heart beat so fast, I thought I was watching “The Departed” for the first time. I also admired the cinematography: the use of color and images to convey or highlight the unsaid is spot-on. The use of the film’s score is never distracting because it is used at the right time. Michael Mann’s direction is impressive in every level because he keeps us guessing by telling a familiar story in a different approach. The supporting actors such as Val Kilmer, Jon Voight and Amy Brenneman are very strong and crucial to the bigger picture. But the downside that I can’t ignore is the fact that there were more than ten scenes that I thought could’ve been edited out. This could’ve been a two-hour film and still be a great movie. If it didn’t take too much of its time setting things up, I think this movie could’ve been leaner, meaner, and more exciting. Still, it is a very good movie and definitely one of the best directed crime-thrillers I’ve seen.
Jaws
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
This is one of the finest examples of suspense and horror. From the very first scene to the very last, there’s a certain menace that’s present so the audiences never really let their guards down. The idea of sharks eating people whenever they go in the water is such a simple idea but Steven Spielberg’s execution made it unimaginably terrifying. When the film is not scaring the audiences, it’s making them laugh by using the characters’ dialogue, but those hints of sunshine don’t last long because the danger is never dispelled until the very end. Spielberg’s technique of not actually showing the shark until the first hour is brilliant because he keeps us guessing on how big the fish actually is. When we finally get to see what’s eating the people, it’s that much more exciting. The second part of the movie is nothing but relentless scares: what the audiences see (when the shark attacks) and what they don’t see (the characters’ stories right after they talk about their scars). I was surprised by how much this movie affected me because it was made in 1975; most horror films are dated but this one of the few that is timeless. It relies on genuine scares and situations that can actually happen so the film becomes universal. Lastly, I must commend John Williams for the score. The already scary scenes are elevated to the next level because of the music. This is not a typical summer blockbuster film because it doesn’t rely on visual effects; it is character-driven, extremely suspenseful, occassionally funny, and the timing when it comes to horror is impeccable.
Breakfast on Pluto
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
Cillian Murphy is a chameleon. Instead of playing a man on the run from zombies (“28 Days Later”), a psychiatrist who wants to drive Gotham City into madness (“Batman Begins, “The Dark Knight”), an assassin who terrorizes Rachel McAdams (“Red Eye”), and one of the chosen few whose goal is to ignite the sun (“Sunshine”), this time around he plays a sympathetic transvestite whose mission is to find his mother in London. Even though the approach of the film is slanted toward the comedic side, there’s a certain sadness and tragedy that lingers throughout the picture. The only main flaw that I could point out is the middle portion is a bit saggy. The little adventures that Murphy’s character (Patrick “Kitten” Braden) went through are interesting but some of them didn’t add up to anything in the end (Maybe that’s the point regarding how life really is sometimes?). The film regains its focus when the idea of family is again introduced during the last thirty minutes. It’s heartbreaking, touching and hopeful at the same time. I also liked the fact that we got to know the friends of Braden. Even though Braden travels to all these places, the audiences get this feeling that his friends have always got his back. Overall, this is a solid film that could’ve been extremely sentimental and cliched but ultimately did not because the writing is smart and the direction is focused.
Videodrome, The Prestige, Diary of the Dead
Videodrome
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
It’s a shame because this film stared off very well. During its first fifteen minutes, it was able to swiftly and astutely state its hypothesis and relate it to its audiences. Even though it was released in 1983, two subjects that are seemingly disparate–sex and violence–are more relevant today than ever. The picture was able to take those two things and combine them in multiple scenes to show that their effects are not as different as most people think. It makes a commentary regarding how much people can take before they become desensitized or maybe even dehumanized by the media’s images. Although the acting may have been on the weaker side and the special effects are dated, the concept makes up for it. What makes this really flawed is that it wasn’t able to keep the kind of great focus it had in a beginning. About forty minutes into it, I wanted to do or watch something else. The last twenty minutes were typical and maybe even predictable in many respects. It became another head trip that could easily be forgotten once it passed. Still, I’m not against recommending this film to people who care more about the concept than the story because the ideas and horrifying images are truly original.
Prestige, The
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
When I saw this movie for the first time, I didn’t like it because I thought the ending was a big head-scratcher. After seeing it for the second time, I liked it a little bit more (although not by much) because I knew which hints to look for that will eventually justify the twist ending. My problem with this movie is not the acting, the pacing, or its ideas. My problem with it is the writing. If they were going to make a movie about magic tricks, the writing should stay grounded in reality from start to finish because, that way, the audience won’t feel cheated. Adding science fiction into the mix is a big no-no because that would mean anything goes, which means the whole magic storyline is down the toilet. The filmmakers might as well have put aliens trying to invade the world into the movie for the sake of being random. Apart from that, this movie has one twist after twist after twist… until I started to get a headache. Watching more attentively the second time, I also realized that the story is somewhat convoluted to the point of suffocation. There were just so many frustrating pieces that had no role or didn’t seem to fit in the bigger picture. If one wants a better movie about magic tricks, I recommend “The Illusionist” instead.
Diary of the Dead
[ 1 star out of 4 ]
There’s nothing scary about this movie. Throughout the picture, I feel like the actors were a bunch of amateurs who are going for camp more than anything; since their characters weren’t convincingly scared, the audience, too, weren’t scared. The social commentaries felt beyond forced and heavy-handed to the point where I thought, “Enough already! I get what you’re trying to say about the media. Now, give us solid thrills!” But the commentaries weren’t just about the media. It covers issues such as racism, feminism, dependence on technology, anarchy, terrorism… I like that the picture has ideas, but in this instance, the ideas overwhelmed the script and the story. I didn’t get to know the characters so I didn’t care what would happen to them. You’d think that a film by George Romero would be good or even borderline great because he is very capable of producing films that are truly scary. This is a big unfortunate exception because everything felt so out of place and pointless. Maybe the problem are the zombies as well. After “28 Days Later” and “28 Weeks Later,” slow-moving zombies just don’t pump up the scares anymore.
Saw II, Enemy at the Gates, Independence Day
Saw II
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I decided to rewatch this movie hoping that I would like it more than the first time but I didn’t. In fact, I found it even more tiresome this time around. Sure, the gore and the interesting ways of torturing people are still present but story-wise, it’s full of plot holes. Not to mention that this film is teeming with detestable characters so I thought they deserved to be in the movie to be tortured for the audiences’ amusement. The soundtrack is annoying, the script is contrived, even the lighting and camerawork aren’t that great either. The only reason why I’m not giving this a one star out of four is that I thought the needles scene was absolutely brilliant. It definitely made me want to look away from the screen because it was so horrific to watch… but even worse when it lingered in my mind. Other than that, all the actors either overact or not act at all; most of the time we see all the characters either walking around the house or just sitting in misery. For a movie that’s less than an hour and thirty minutes, I couldn’t wait for it to end because it’s redundant and trite.
Enemy at the Gates
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I really liked the fact that this movie was set in World War II but the point of view was from the Russians. I haven’t seen many films that tried to tell the story of what happened in Stalingrad so this was refreshing and fascinating. I also liked that the core of the picture is the duel between two snipers: one is Russian (Jude Law), the other is German (Ed Harris). It’s not that hard to root for Law because of his usual puppy dog charm and Harris was an effective villain because of his cold, steely eyes. Rachel Weisz is also great in this because she is both quite bookish and able to wield a rifle. Lastly, I liked Gabriel Thomson and his spying ways. It provided something different among the exploding bombs and bullets piercing people’s bodies. Even though I thought Law and Weisz looked good together, sometimes the movie dragged a bit due to their romance. At the same time, I couldn’t help but laugh at their really awkward sex scene. Even though the ending is somewhat anticlimactic, I didn’t mind it overall because there were thrilling scenes that could be found throughout the picture. It may not say anything particularly new about the war but it doesn’t fail to entertain.
Independence Day
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
Even though this made millions of dollars in the box office, it’s a very disappointing film overall because it’s pretty on the outside but has nothing to offer inside. I think the filmmakers focused too much on the visual effects to the point where they totally ignored the emotional core. When it tried to be sentimental, it just didn’t work because most of the characters are one-dimensional so the audience can’t relate to their struggle. I expected this film to have more teeth and bite–the closest it came to reaching my expectations were scenes where we see the aliens up close. There’s real suspense during those scenes because we’re as curious as the characters that are interacting with them. As for its pacing, I couldn’t believe nothing happened during the first fifty minutes of the picture. In those minutes, characters are merely walking around or panicking. After those suffocating minutes, the film got a bit better but not by much. The action scenes were uninspired and the characters had out of place one-liners that weren’t funny. I was glad for the film to end, which unfortunately took two hours and thirty minutes. It wasn’t worth it at all because we had to wait for long periods of time for three-minute somewhat above average payoffs.
Eye of the Beholder, The Incredibles, I Know What You Did Last Summer
Eye of the Beholder
[ 1 star out of 4 ]
I usually like Ewan McGregor in every film he’s in but this one is an exception. Not only is this movie without purpose, it goes all over the place in a very boring way. This is one of those films that made me want to go to sleep no matter how much I tried to pay attention to it. The acting is pretty bad but I don’t completely blame the actors because the script is even worse. Maybe the actors didn’t know what or why the heck their characters are saying what they’re saying so the inspiration wasn’t there. I feel like the direction, too, is to blame because the story is just so inert. For a movie less than an hour and fifty minutes long, it felt longer than that because there’s no progression in the story whatsoever. The scenery may change but the characters don’t change in any insightful way. The characters started out very flawed and ended the same way, not learning a thing about their experiences. In the end I said, “What!” out loud because I feel like I was cheated. I urge everyone to stay away from this movie because it does not make any sense.
Incredibles, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
This is one of the many great Pixar films because it’s extremely family-friendly and it doesn’t get old after one viewing. It’s smart enough to focus on characterization during the first forty-five minutes and saving the action-adventure for the rest of its running time. After the audiences are familiar enough with the basics of the characters, each of them are put on the spotlight and shows us their strengths and weaknesses both as superheroes and regular human beings. Even though it’s full of energy, it doesn’t sacrifice its intelligence when it comes to its script and visual candy. I was impressed with some of the ideas of this film such as the superheroes getting sued because some people did not want to be saved, the superheroes going underground because their actions are no longer appreciated, and the superheroes eventually rising up from the ashes like phoenixes. Finally, I admired its soundtrack which reminded me of spy films like the “James Bond” franchise and television shows like “Alias.” Despite all the attractions for children, this film contains adult-oriented jokes found in Bob and Helen’s marriage, humour about fashion such as Edna’s observations about designers and supermodels, and even a big reference to Eminem’s song called “Stan.” Suffice to say, this movie is quite, well, incredible.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
It may seem like a typical slasher movie on the outside but I was surprised when I realized how much suspense this movie had. The actual kills are rarely shown, which is a good thing, because the horror lies in the chases and the killer hiding in the shadows. I liked that there’s only four main characters: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. The audience didn’t get to know them as much as we should have but they’re not exactly boring either. This movie preys on people’s fears: when someone’s actively trying to run you over, someone hiding in your house but you not knowing about it, and hearing strange noises in your car when you’re driving alone are some effective chills that this film has to offer. I did have a major problem with the script, though, because the dialogue made my eyes roll. I feel like the characters were not that intelligent or they didn’t talk like they’re in college. This movie kept me guessing who the killer was up until the end and it was suspenseful. Those two alone are enough for me to recommend this.
The Chumscrubber, The Great Debaters, End of Days
Chumscrubber, The
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I found it hard to connect with the characters because pretty much all of them are self-centered: they are either too busy with their jobs to notice events that are going on around them or they drug themselves so that they wouldn’t have to feel. I have a penchant for black comedies that comments on life in suburbia but I found this to be a little too pretentious for its own good. The “artistic” moments made me roll my eyes and the supposedly heartbreaking moments do not merit sympathy. The best moment of the film was the interaction between Jamie Bell and Glenn Close near the end because their pain was real. We got to know them more in three minutes than we did the entire picture. I think this would’ve worked better if the adults were the focus of the story, not the teenagers. I feel like the scenes with the teens are unrelatable and bland, slow and annoying. The adults, on the other hand, are pretty good, especially Allison Janney’s sad turn as the mother who turns to the fostering of her business because her family wouldn’t give her the time of day. If there were less characters, the “artistic” scenes were removed, and the writing is a bit sharper, this would’ve been another good film about the desperation and meltdown in suburbia.
Great Debaters, The
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I enjoyed this movie from an academic and emotional point of view. Even though the rest of the film is consistently good, the debate scenes are the ones stand out because they’re both exciting and educational. I didn’t care so much about the drama between the characters because I feel like I’ve seen it all before too many times. At times, the film would linger too long in the characters’ sadness to the point where the picture would slow down a bit. I wish that Denzel Washington and and Forest Whitaker had more scenes together. The one scene where the two of them engaged was so interesting due to their subtle acting. The message about racism wasn’t hammered even though it was always there so that was a nice surprise. Since this was based on real life, a lot of people knew how it was going to end but I didn’t because I’m no fan of debate nor am I that interested in history. Still, this is a good movie for those who want to learn something new or gain a new perspective when it comes to issues that are still relevant today.
End of Days
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I noticed so many plot holes with this picture as I was watching it to the point where I finally gave up and just observed what would happen. I couldn’t help but laugh whenever Arnold Schwarzenegger would try to be sentimental (I actually missed his one-liners in action films!), the fiery special effects, and how bullets can actually stop Satan in his tracks. One of the few good things about this movie, though, was Gabriel Byrne as Satan because he was able to balance humor with sadism. I didn’t care that much for the story or its characters because both aspects are one-dimensional. The film drags on a bit but there were interesting (and creepy) images that could be found every fifteen minutes or so. It’s weird how this movie has a lot of explosions despite the whole Satan-coming-to-spawn storyline. It didn’t work as a whole but I can’t say it’s a complete mess either. I think if the filmmakers had found a right footing, this would have been pretty good. Lastly, I was disappointed because I was expecting more of a horror than an action picture.
The Dark Knight
Dark Knight, The (2008)
★★★★ / ★★★★
Do I think this is the best superhero movie ever made and in comparison to what? Yes, I think it is the best superhero ever made (as of July 2008) and it’s about five times better than the great “Spider-man 2.” Do I think this is one of the best films of the 2000′s? Yes, I do because it not only works as a first-rate superhero film, it also works as a gritty suspense-crime thriller (some scenes are as heart-pounding as “The Departed”) influenced with noir films from the mid to late 1950′s (such as “The Killing”).
That said, I am both impressed and mildly disappointed with “The Dark Knight.” I have two reasons why I was disappointed: the film was not I expected it to be and the so-called twists in the story weren’t twists for me at all because I’m very familiar with the story of Batman along with the citizens and villains of Gotham City. I know the director, Christopher Nolan, means well when it comes to closely following the story of Batman; however, that comes with a price: the movie became almost too predictable. (Don’t get me wrong–I love the fact that Nolan is sticking close to the mythology and providing us great movies for my favorite superhero.) So, when certain events happen, I was sometimes apathetic to them because I knew whether a character will die or live to fight another day. But I emphasize this: some of the twists I did not see coming at all, so those few unpredictable twists almost make up for the shortcomings.
Jumping back to first reason why I was slightly disappointed, I expected the film to be more like the first movie. I wanted to know more about Bruce Wayne’s childhood and his relationship with his parents. I wanted a structure–a solid beginning, middle, and end. This film feels like one action scene after another–kind of like a long middle, if you will. On the other hand, that is not exactly a bad thing because a lack of structure and chaos is what this movie is aiming for, kind of like what the Joker is all about. And that’s why I think this film is so brilliant: the thing I don’t like about it is so fitting; it’s feels so wrong to me but it feels so right when it comes to the movie’s ongoing theme. Also, one could argue that this is a continuation of “Batman Begins” so a beginning is not necessary and neither is an ending because the next chapter is yet to come.
As for the actors, Christian Bale solidified himself as the best Batman because he was able to play his character with such complexity by having a gray moral compass. Although his intentions are good, the repercussions of his actions are sometimes negative. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a big improvement from Katie Holmes by playing Rachel Dawes, who is torn between two lovers. While Holmes comes off as whiny and irksome, Gyllenhaal is tough but vulnerable. Aaron Eckhart effectively showcases a character that supports the Joker’s hypothesis. Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine were actually given more important roles this time around so their characters are able to grow and the audience can understand their motivations a bit better. I just have to mention Cillian Murphy’s return as the Scarecrow, despite his small screen time, because he was completely brilliant as a once major villain turned into an ordinary criminal. Not only does his return tie up some loose ends from “Batman Begins,” his return reminds us that Scarecrow is child’s play compared to what the Joker is about to bring to Gotham City. If one is familiar with the mythology, it could be a hint (or serve as a ripple effect–a statement regarding the circular nature of the Batman universe) on what could happen in the third movie. Last but not least, Heath Ledger did an excellent job as the Joker. Ever since I was younger, I’ve always thought of the Joker as menacing more than anything else; the laughs come in BECAUSE his actions are so cruel and sadistic to the point where it’s darkly comic, NOT the other way around.
Actors who’ve played Joker in the past often make that dire mistake of being funny more than half of the time. Ledger understood the Joker’s core: he introduces chaos to the world for no reason. As one character gravely stated, “Some men just want to watch the world burn.” Those characters often make the most terrifying and memorable villains. Since their motivations are unknown and they have nothing to lose, that evil can never be purged. Ledger’s performance definitely reminded me of the ultra-violent Alex in “A Clockwork Orange.” Do I think Ledger deserves at least an Oscar nomination for his role as the Joker? Most definitely. Does he deserve to win? Maybe. Only time will tell until or if someone else can do a better job playing a supporting actor role.
It was a great pleasure watching “The Dark Knight” despite its flaws because I knew that my favourite superhero’s story is finally told with such focus, complexity, and heart. I can only hope that the next film will be just as good as “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”
The Mummy (1999), The Bourne Supremacy, The 11th Hour
Mummy, The (1999)
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I remember watching this film back in 1999 and it amazes me how much I remember from it nine years later. Even though it has a lot of CGI for visual effects, this movie is undeniably enjoyable because it relies on its characters to get some emotions out of the audiences. It could’ve easily shown the torture and the kills but they didn’t so it leaves some images for the imagination. Brendan Frasier, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah are all funny in their own ways but the three of them are very distinct. The mummy, played by Arnold Vosloo, is an effective villain, especially during the scenes when the treasure hunters just brought him back from the dead. Stephen Sommers, the director, wisely shrouded the mummy in the shadows for as long as he could so that the audience will be curious regarding what he looks like, his out-of-this-world abilities, and therefore engaged. The picture is fast-paced and full of action, which reminded me of “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.” There are also a lot of quotable one-liners that kept the movie from being too serious. This is a campy, energetic roller-coaster popcorn flick that shouldn’t be taken that seriously.
Bourne Supremacy, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
A lot of folks were turned off by this installment’s unstable camera technique. I thought it was another dash of brilliance because it matches the film’s kinetic storyline. Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne, angrier and more astute as ever. While this film serves as the transition between the (brilliant) first to the (magnificient) third installment, this one deserves some merit. If I had to pick which one is the weakest of the three, this would be it. Nonethless, it’s a four-star film because it managed to progress the story, find a decent footing regarding its tone, and the action sequences are bigger, more exciting. The classic, really complex car chase scene near the end of the film is nothing short of perfection. I felt like I was right there next to Jason Bourne. This entire franchise truly revived the tried-and-true action flicks that’s gotten stale. It’s my favourite spy trilogy. If there happens to be a fourth one, I would be more than willing to embrace it.
11th Hour, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
What I love about this movie is that it was able to move past the global warming issues and see the bigger picture with such clarity and purpose. It started off with the basics–elementary-level information that pretty much everyone should know about. But as it went on, it became a complex, well-organized academic paper that gets more fun the longer one sticks with it. I learned a lot from this film but I’m not going to mention all of them because it is best if one chooses to experience it for himself or herself. But probably one of the most important lessons I took away from this picture is that the fight against global warming is not to protect the planet. Ultimately, it is a fight to protect ourselves; the Earth flourished prior to our existence and it will continue to do so once we are extinct. I love Leonardo DiCaprio and it is almost impossible for me to not be biased but he really does have a small role here. He’s a well-known active environmentalist and that’s fine. But do not let his presence be a distraction. Focus on the various scientists’ comments and concerns, the facts that they try to convey, and the images of the destruction we’ve forgotten so quickly. I prefer this over “An Inconvenient Truth” because I think it is more geared toward my age group. Still, watching both films is a must because our society desperately needs to change its thinking when it comes to our planet.
Save the Last Dance, Tears of the Sun, The Bank Job (2008)
Save the Last Dance
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I enjoyed this movie quite a bit even though I’m not much into dancing because it’s a deceptively typical coming of age film. While we get some of the familiar set-up that involves interracial relationships and being a minority in a predominantly black neighborhood, the picture is able to focus on all of those issues and comment on them in a thoughful way. There’s a brilliant scene with Julia Stiles and Kerry Washington while they wait in the doctor’s waiting room. Even though what Washington tells Stiles hurts, in a way it’s very true. Moments like that makes this film above average and worth watching. With most movies, I have a problem whenever there’s too many characters because focus is mostly sacrificed. I didn’t have a problem with this one because each character or side-story is interesting and worth analyzing. Lastly, I’m glad that the film had the time to tackle the issue of achieving someone’s dreams even though it’s a familiar territory. I thought the final big dance scene is inspiring and made me feel like I, too, could reach my dreams if I just work hard enough.
Tears of the Sun
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
The movie started off a little too slow for my liking but it got so much more interesting during the second half so I am ultimately recommending it. Before the half-way point, I didn’t see the point of the movie because it seemed like the story was going nowhere. I mean, the Special-Ops team, led by Bruce Willis, had a plan and all but none of it was actually executed right away because there were too many scenes where the people being rescued were shown crying and saying goodbye. That said, there were also too many scenes where the filmmakers tried to make the audience care. I feel like they didn’t need to do that because we can see what was happening; most audiences will care, whether they like it or not, when they see refugees trying to escape from murdering rebels. Most critics didn’t like the fact that toward the end the film took the “Hollywood” path and had a typical war action sequences. I liked it because it’s a complete opposite of the first half. There was a huge build-up throughout the movie and if those action sequences didn’t happen, it would have been a big disappointment. Also, kudos to Bruce Willis for keeping me engaged. Just looking at him makes me feel like his character has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Overall, this is not a good movie at first glance, but once it reaches the middle portion, it functions on a whole other level.
Bank Job, The (2008)
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
This is one of the best heist films to come out of recent years. Instead of being another polished caper movie like “The Italian Job” (which I liked a lot), this is more gritty and more realistic, which makes it that much more interesting. There were a lot of scenes where I found myself either nearly falling off the couch or biting my nails because the characters are always placed in some form of danger. I’m surprised by the pace of this picture: the actual bank robbery was already done fifty minutes into it; the real drama comes after the crime–which is a bold and quite brilliant strategy of storytelling. Each of the character that robbed the bank was featured in some way before the job so the audience got to know them at least a little bit so we care what would happen to them later on. It’s funny how more complications arise after they get all their shares than before breaking into the vault. Jason Statham made this picture that much more interesting because, once again, he’s the guy who’s tough on the outside but is really kind-hearted inside; he’s very conflicted so he’s not exactly saintly either. Pretty much all of the elements here worked for me (especially the twists and turns) so I’m giving this movie a very enthusiastic recommendation.
Pi, Moulin Rouge!, Eraser
Pi
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
The movie started off pretty strong but as the character’s madness started to set in, the movie got more random with each passing minute. I did like hearing about the math because most of the explanations about patterns did make sense, but when they tried to fuse the topic with religion, I just didn’t buy it because it’s too implausible (I actually caught my eyes rolling a couple of times). I feel like the director was trying too hard to fit everything together, but instead it all falls flat. The black and white, grainy look didn’t bother me at all. In fact, that’s what I like most about it because it’s stylish in its own way. It might, however, repel most casual viewers because there’s nothing much to look at. To me, the movie isn’t about the images anyway. It’s more about the idea and how the filmmakers play with that idea. Ultimately, the look of it elevated the creepiness factor. Thankfully, this movie is only about eighty-five minutes long because the ending was too random, if not a bit unforgivable. If this film had retained its focus, it would have been a good picture.
Moulin Rouge!
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I thought this film was way overrated when it came out because everyone I knew seemed to have loved it. After five years, I rewatched it again and I still think it’s overrated although not as much as before. Sure, I commend this picture for having a great cinematography and wonderful clothing, but story-wise, it’s nothing ground-breaking. It’s pretty much your boy-falls-in-love-with-girl-but-they-can’t-be-together-because-another-boy-is-interested-in-the-girl story but set in a musical. But what makes this film above average is Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Nicole Kidman is elegant in every scene she’s in without sacrificing her signature ice queen personality. Ewan McGregor has this boyish charm that one cannot help but love. When you put them together in one scene, they summon a little bit of Leonardi DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in “Titanic.” I also really liked the way they fused songs from pop culture to its original material… and then having to fuse those into the storyline. Surprisingly, all of it worked for me. The weakness of this film is the beginning: there were too many cuts from one character to another to the point where it made me dizzy and want to look away from the screen. Otherwise, when it finally found its footing twenty minutes into the picture, it was pretty good… but it couldn’t quite attain greatness.
Eraser
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I was expecting for this to be another typical action film but I was proven wrong. Instead of taking itself too seriously, this is actually quite funny due to its campy one-liners and colorful characters. Arnold Schwarzenegger is really likeable in this film because he is able to provide comfort for the characters who need protecting, but at the same time killing those who want to harm them. Vanessa Williams is a good leading lady for this role because she’s actually given things to do and she’s able to work with her plucky persona. James Caan is an effective villain because he actually goes wherever Schwarzenegger goes and tries to kill the protagonist whenever he could instead of waiting in a room for the final battle. Also, I thought this film was creative because it was able to feature incredible weapons, it’s not afraid to add animals into the action, and it has decent twists. Several highlights of the film include the plane showdown and the zoo. Also, the winks to the “Terminator” franchise somehow felt right. This movie surpassed my expectations and was able to surprise me in many ways.
Jacob’s Ladder, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, Full Metal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
Jacob’s Ladder
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I don’t know whether or not to recommend this picture because I’m kind of disappointed since I expected a different kind of film. But in a way, original expectations aside, this is a pretty solid and original piece of filmmaking which helped inspire modern psychological-thriller films that generate various valid interpretations due to a controversial ending. Creepy images are aplenty, some of which I’ve seen from the classic “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the horrendous “One Missed Call.” I thought the writing was strong because it kept me guessing from beginning to end. Just when you think you got it all figured out, a missing piece of the puzzle is provided so then you have to take that into consideration and perhaps change your idea of where the story is really going. Tim Robbins as a war veteran who experiences strange phenomena is terrific here. He really embraced that he was in danger… but during the more sentimental moments, you cannot help but care for him because he really is a good guy. There is no one explanation that elucidates everything that is going on with this picture. I tried to watch it in two major angles: science and religion. Both work to justify the ending; it’s up to the viewers to draw their own conclusions. I’m ultimately recommending this movie because it makes its audiences think and it gives them really strange images, which are usually found in nightmares.
Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
I love this movie because it goes over not only all the movies that Stanley Kubrick had made, but also his relationship with his family, the actors that he worked with, and the media. Instead of turning into a sappy picture, it actually celebrates Kubrick’s accomplishments but not to an extent where he is treated as perfect in every way. In fact, that’s what I love most about Kubrick: even though he is deeply flawed like most of us, he is able to acquire such an accurate view of the human condition and present such views into film in an artistic and unforgettable manner. I couldn’t help but feel sad when the documentary is going over Kubrick’s movies because I’m reminded of the fact that I would never see a new movie made by Kubrick ever again. He puts such thought and craft in each of his films, to the point where each of them is different yet very special. I’ve seen most of Kubrick’s films and I can remember each of them vividly. When the word “Kubrick” comes to mind, I instantly think of signature images: money flying all over the place such as in “The Killing,” a flood of blood pouring out from an elevator such as in “The Shining,” a human baby next to the earth such as in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and much more. It was also great to hear what other great directors, such as Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, comment on Kubrick’s work. This film made me wish that Kubrick made more movies, but at the same time I’m glad he didn’t make a lot because each one that he made is close to perfection. I hope future filmmakers will watch this movie and be inspired to make uncompromising films like the legendary Stanley Kubrick.
Full Metal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I didn’t watch the series so I didn’t get what was happening throughout the movie. But that doesn’t automatically mean that it’s a bad film. It’s just that I think I would’ve liked it more if I was familiar with the characters already because the picture did not have much room for character development. However, one can argue that movies should always be able to stand alone, regardless of whether it’s a continuation from a series or not. I did like the animation, especially the battle sequences because I thought there was a lot of energy that was put into it. As for the story, it was a little confusing because it has something to do with Nazis and Hitler. I learned that Hitler was obsessed with the paranormal from school and other films so I thought that part was pretty good. What I didn’t like was the lack of presence of the main villain. By the end of the film, that main enemy stepped up a bit more but it was so forced–it was easy to believe that the villain had no chance of winning. And what was up with Envy, Wrath, and Gluttony? Were the other four deadly sins covered in the series? I’m reluctant to give this a one star out of four because I didn’t have enough background to fully understand the big picture.
Dawn of the Dead (2004), An American Werewolf in London, Full Metal Jacket
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I find this zombie film interesting because it’s more disgusting than scary. Although it has its gasp-out-loud moments, they are balanced with dark humor that can be found in the characters’ idiosyncrasies. I haven’t seen the original “Dawn of the Dead” (at the time I was writing this review) so I can’t compare this to that one. However, I like the certain campiness that this picture has because once it gets amusing, the real horror pops out of nowhere. There are two most memorable scenes for me: the beginning when Sarah Polley wakes up as a zombie enters her home and the ending when everyone makes their escape despite an ocean of the undead. I also enjoyed the commentaries about individualism, abortion, and capital punishment. All of those issues were deftly sewn into the film. My main problem with it is the middle: the filmmakers spent too much time observing the characters’ idle days instead of delivering consistent shocks that the audience crave. Still, this is not a bad remake; it actually made me want to watch the original.
American Werewolf in London, An
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
“A naked American man stole my balloons!” is one of the many memorable quotes from this campy, nicely paced film. Although this is more of an exercise in black comedy than horror, it has solid thrills, especially toward the beginning of the picture. Several most memorable scenes include: the werewolf’s first attack, the dream sequences, the various stage’s of Jack’s decomposition, the transformation, and the porno theatre. But the person that gave this movie a soft touch that it desperately needed was Jenny Agutter as the nurse who takes in David (played by David Naughton). She shines in her scenes and I wanted to know more about her as the story unfolded itself. My main problem with this movie is that it didn’t have enough horror to satisfy those who are expecting to be scared. If more scenes like the first attack were present, I think this picture would be on an entirely different level. Still, this is one of the best werewolf movies I’ve seen; the transformation scene alone looks very convincing, if not terrifying. I wish more Hollywood movies would make campy, horror movies like this because it’s really a joy to watch even if it’s far from perfect.
Full Metal Jacket
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
I expected this movie to be great because Stanley Kubrick never fails to impress me, but I’ve read a lot of critiques that claim that this is one of Kubrick’s weaker pictures so I was anticipating for the film to slip eventually. Thankfully, it never did. Sure, the dark and sharp humor can be found in the first half of the film only, and the other half features the battlefield. At first, I was kind of thrown off as well, but a character makes an insightful comment about the duality of man. And that’s when it all clicked: this film is about two extremes… and how those extremes come together. I don’t want to list all the scenes I thought embodies or supports that idea, but the one aspect that stood out for me the most was the use of humour in situations that are nothing short of serious. Other tools that I found interesting was the use of night and day. In the daytime, even though the characters are in dire situations, we are able to laugh with or at the characters for the things that they say or do. But when night comes, we are no longer able to laugh because the dark side of humanity is highlighted. That’s when the irony comes because although night shows darkness, the audiences can better see what the characters are thinking and feeling, as if it’s as bright as day. Lastly, the use of indoors and outdoors is fascinating as well. Indoors usually go hand-in-hand with safety, and outdoors usually mean danger. But that is switched in this film. The idea of indoors-outdoors culminates at the end of the picture during the sniper scenes. This film requires a close viewing because the little details make the experience that much richer. Once again, Kubrick delivers a timeless film that is worth discussing and analyzing.
Stop-Loss, Sleepwalking, Kramer vs. Kramer
Stop-Loss
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I appreciate Kimberly Peirce for making a pretty effective film about a policy that is (unfortunately) not familiar to a lot of Americans: stop-loss. Basically, stop-loss involuntarily extends a soldier’s service even if his or her contract has ended. Ryan Phillippe continues to add another serious film in his repertoire and he’s effective here as a soldier who doesn’t want to go back to Iraq. He owns every scene he’s in because you can see in his eyes that determination of wanting to live his own life after serving in the military. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum also did a great job portraying soldiers that took different paths. The film started off well–the scenes in the battlefield is nothing short of gripping. Unfortunately, the picture became a little unfocused somewhere in the middle when Phillippe’s character decided to go AWOL. Still, there were scenes during the middle portion that stood out and established that these soldiers aren’t done being in the war even if they’ve returned home. They go through guilt, post-traumatic stress disorders, and anger; once a person goes to war, there is no going back. What really didn’t work for me, though, was the jarring hip-hop and hard rock soundtrack. I think the film could’ve been elevated with a slow, political folk songs instead. This film is very sad on the surface but very angry in its core.
Sleepwalking
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
This is not a feel-good movie but that doesn’t make it a bad movie. Even though it may be very heavy-handed on the drama, it managed to have some sort of focus on the story. Set mostly in the winter and shot in areas where there are no bright colors, the tone is depressing and at times a bit claustrophobic. Still, the performances here are pretty good: Charlize Theron is the mother who doesn’t know how to be one because she gets distracted by life’s circumstances, Nick Stahl is the symptathetic brother who sees himself as a failure so he tries hard to pick up his sister’s responsibilities–something he could be successful at, and Dennis Hopper as the father who was way too hard on his children and his past actions catch up to him. Not a lot of things happen in this movie because the film’s purpose was to observe. Still, it could have been much more powerful if Theron has been on screen more and if the picture had more comedic moments that serve as a hint of sunlight amidst all the darkness. By the end of the movie, the tone was more bitter than bittersweet because the characters are still trapped, despite the actions they have taken to try to break free from their own prisons.
Kramer vs. Kramer
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
This picture possesses a silent power that cannot be found in many modern family dramas. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep did a great job as far-from-perfect parents; one chose to leave and one had to stay. Eventually, they fight for their child in the courtroom but not in a loud or very dramatic way; it was done in a very naturalistic manner which made the film all the more impressive. The script is very smart in showing how the characters changed in a span of eighteen months. For instance, there’s a scene in the beginning that’s done again in the end to show how the two characters have evolved. There’s no wasted scene here–often, a struggle is shown that will eventually change the character’s outlook on how to parent or prioritize. Still, the title suggests that there will be a war between the father and mother but it never really happened, so it was kind of misleading. Another thing is that some critics say that the film did not favor one parent over the other. I disagree because Hoffman has a considerable screen time than Streep. I think the film would be more balanced if the two lead actors had an equal amount of time in front of the camera. It would feel more like what’s at stake is very, very crucial (or more important than it already is). This is a great family drama–its power mostly lies in the unsaid than the things that are said.
Dawn of the Dead (1978), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Control (2007)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
Even though this movie is more amusing than scary, I enjoyed it because the creepy tone was consistent. Even if something funny is happening on screen, danger is always looming around the corner so the audience is always prepared that something bad will happen. I think the premise of it is brilliant for its time: what place better to settle when zombies are everywhere than a mall where one can get pretty much everything he or she needs to survive? I actually imagined myself in the characters’ situation and found that I would’ve done the exact same thing as them: try on clothes, run around and eat food as much as I want, whenever I want. As for the movie’s special effects, such as the zombies biting into bodies while blood and guts are spurting out, they look really fake… but they look really gross to the point where it’s really effective in its own strange (yet droll) way. I thought the performances from the actors are campy but it fits the occasion. Social commentaries such as consumerism, feminism, abortion… are implied just right most of the time. This film is deserving of its title of being a horror cult classic because it is brutal and disgusting yet brilliant in more ways than one.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
It’s interesting to watch this movie again after seeing it three years ago. It’s a lot different than the sequel in many ways. For instance, the environs that we could see here are mostly covered in snow, there are far less battle scenes, and the focus of the story is the discovery of the Narnia and the creatures that live in such an enchanted place. Even though Georgie Henley (Lucy), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), William Moseley (Peter), and Anna Popplewell (Susan) tend to overact at times, they’re perfectly casted because they bring a certain fresh energy to the picture that may have been lost to more experienced actors. Plus, each of them has a special presence that made the movie that much more engaging. I must also give nods to Tilda Swinton for playing the chillingly effective White Witch and Liam Neeson for voicing the majestic Aslan. This is a great introduction to the “Narnia” series even though I think it’s not as heartpounding as its sequel. Nevertheless, while the second one lacks a certain sense of wonder, this one is drenched in it.
Control (2007)
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
This movie absolutely blew me away. As far as musical biopics go, this is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Sam Riley got my attention the moment he appeared on screen and never let go. He played Ian Curtis with such passion and charisma but also highlighted the character flaws and decisions Curtis made in his life. Samantha Morton breaks my heart as Curtis’ wife who really did everything she could to show her love for Curtis. When she finds out that her husband is less than loyal, the way she responded was unpredictable. Like the actors’ performances, this film is very lowkey yet it has an undeniable quiet power that moved me. As for Joy Division, I didn’t know much more about them except that they greatly influenced Franz Ferdinand’s music. So, I didn’t know what I was in for. Joy Division’s music is the kind of music I listen to so I’ll give them a close listen. I thought the decision to show in this film in black and white is absolutely brilliant because it underlines the depression under the beauty that Curtis was going through. Sam Riley really impressed me with his acting: I thought he was the definition of cool when he was walking down the street while wearing a grey coat without a care for the world. Subtle moments like listlessly sitting on a bed really hones in on the apathy of that generation and also the mental breakdown of Curtis. If one were to look closely, one will realize that this film is more than about the death of a lead singer of a post-punk band. I absolutely loved it!