Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco (1997)
★★★ / ★★★★
Based on true events, director Mike Newell tells the story of how FBI special agent Joseph D. Pistone (Johnny Depp), whose mob alias is Donnie Brasco, climbs the ladder of the mafia hierarchy. Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero (Al Pacino) takes Brasco under his wing because Brasco can become somebody that he always aspires to be–a high-level member of the mafia who has genuine power so he can be proud of his life and the things he has done. As Brasco becomes more into the mafia life, he starts to detach from his responsibilities to his job and, more importantly, his family (Anne Heche plays his wife). “Donnie Brasco” was not the kind of movie I expected. Although I did expect for it to have very entertaining tough guy conversations that were common to gangster films, I did not expect it to have as much heart. The relationship between Brasco and Pistone was fascinating because the two almost had a father-son relationship. The tricky thing was that Brasco knew all along that he eventually had to turn Pistone in to the FBI; how could he do that to a friend or a father figure? The performances were exemplary, especially from Depp and Pacino, because there’s a real complexity and tension between the characters and their respective families. I felt like the more they tried to help each other out, the more their families’ lives started falling apart–as if their relationship was toxic or was never meant to be. I also really liked Michael Madsen as Sonny Black. His tough-but-cool persona reminded me of his character Mr. Blonde in “Reservoir Dogs.” Ultimately, this film is about the two lead characters’ evolution: one toward the mafia life and one away from it. For a two-hour running time, we wereable to observe the differences between what a character was thinking and what a character was doing. Although there were a plethora of similiarities between the two, the differences were enough to trigger a certain nuanced intelligence that are worth discussing when the credits start rolling. “Donnie Brasco” is arguably unlike other gangster pictures because it does not necessarily focus on how to be a gangster but on what it means to be a gangster. It’s worth seeing.
Wild Reeds
Wild Reeds (1994)
★★★★ / ★★★★
“Wild Reeds,” directed by André Téchiné impressed me in every way. In under two hours, the film was able to efficiently describe the complexity of four characters in the middle of adolescence. While all of them attend the same boarding school, they cannot be any more different. François Forestier (Gaël Morel) realizes that he’s gay due to his attraction to Serge Bartolo (Stéphane Rideau), a working-class French-Italian whose brother died in a war. François’ worst enemy is himself: he doesn’t know what to do with his recent realization so he constantly tries to look for support because not even his closest friend Maïté Alvarez (Élodie Bouchez from “Alias”) can help him out due to her initial attraction to him. Even though François and Serge slept together once, Stéphane is not gay and this bothered François to his core. Things get even more complicated when Henri Mariani (Frédéric Gorny) comes into the picture; being a French-Algerian, his passion toward his support for France’ colonization of Algeria created tension among his teachers, classmates, and even himself. Being an outcast, François sees something in him, the two become friends, yet their relationship does not become predictable. All those elements made the story fascinating and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.
This is no doubt a coming-of-age film but it’s more organic than American films of the same subgenre. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t watching a movie at all. It felt like a story that could’ve happened back in the 1960′s because of how affected the characters are by the war. Not one of them is not affected by the politics and it was interesting to explore their psychologies. Although I was particularly touched by François’ struggles when it comes to self-acceptance versus self-rejection (that mirror scene was both brilliant and heartbreaking), I was very interested in Maïté’s mother (Michèle Moretti), who happens to be the three boys’ teacher. She felt so guilty about not helping Serge’s brother evade the war, she pretty much went crazy after his death. That one scene when she was at the hospital was so haunting, it gave me serious goosebumps. Just one small scene of less than three minutes was enough to truly paint how tortured she was by her guilt so I was very impressed. Moreover, I was satisfied with how Téchiné divided the time between the four lead characters. When each of them was under the spotlight, we truly get to know why they ended up the way they were because they talk about their past and their current thoughts on the matter. Yet at the same time, it does not result to the usual melodrama where they cry so that the audiences will feel sorry for them. In fact, they do the opposite: they try to be so strong but an outsider can (or should be able to) tell that they’re on the verge of breaking down. I was highly impressed with the acting from the four leads because I felt like they had subtlety and they always had something going on behind their eyes. In a nutshell, these are the type of characters I’d like to be friends with because they do not thrive on superficiality.
“Wild Reeds” is truly one of the best coming-of-age films I’ve seen. The characters have a certain emotional intelligence that one rarely sees in such a subgenre, especially in American coming-of-age pictures. Being released in 1994, it goes to show that a thoughtful coming-of-age movie does not need to feature excesses of alcohol, sex and loud music. It sets up an argument that self-discovery can happen right in our own small towns with people who we care about, the books that we love rereading and the current politics that we hear in the radio. This is the kind of movie that I want to add to my collection because of its many underlying themes that require multiple viewings. In my opinion, both fans of character studies and cinéphiles should not miss this gem.
The Boys from Brazil
Boys from Brazil, The (1978)
★★★ / ★★★★
I heard about this film in several of my Biology classes so I thought I’d check it out. Gregory Peck as Dr. Josef Mengel stars as a Nazi scientist with an evil plan: assassinate ninety-four sixty-five-year-old men in a span of two-and-a-half years. Believe it or not, that is only the first step of his much more menacing endgame. Sir Laurence Olivier is the Nazi hunter who tries to stop Dr. Mengel after hearing about it from a young Nazi seeker played by Steve Guttenberg. Watching Peck and Olivier interact, especially during the final scenes, was a pleasure to watch. They both have such power in the way they deliver their lines yet still have that subtetly that makes the audiences question whether what they see is really the entire picture. The way Franklin J. Schaffner, the director, told the story reminded me of the best spy films I’ve seen. He managed to build the suspense after each scene but at the same time still have minor payoffs to keep the viewer engaged. I thought this film had three standout scenes: when Guttenberg learns the information that the Nazis are planning (it reminded me of “Alias” when Jennifer Garner would drop in a conversation she wasn’t meant to hear), when Olivier learns about the science that goes behind the Nazis endgame (the science is completely believable which made it all the more impressive), and one of the last scene involving the dogs (which I thought was deeply symbolic). Those three scenes alone convinced me that this film should be seen by many. Although there wasn’t as much gun-wielding action scenes as I would’ve liked, the characters are shrewd and the plot was intelligently written with genuine moments of comedy dispersed along the way.
Star Trek
Star Trek (2009)
★★★ / ★★★★
I’ve never seen an episode of the original “Star Trek” series nor have I seen any prior feature films. Having said that, I’ll review this picture as a stand-alone film instead of comparing it to the original television show and the ten movies that came before. I’m so glad that J.J. Abrams took over this franchise. Being familiar with his best work such as “Alias” and “Fringe,” I knew that, as a director, he would expertly balance three elements: humor, intelligence and thrilling action. Just when things would get too serious, a character would say something really funny to release some tension and avoid taking “The Dark Knight” direction (which is dark, brooding and heavy). “Star Trek” completely embraced a somewhat light-hearted tone and it worked because this film’s ultimate goal is to reboot a barely alive franchise. When it comes to winning new fans, I think it’s successful because me and four of my friends had no idea what we were in for but all of us ended up really liking it. Even I have to admit that I’m now interested in watching the films that came before it. Each actor had something significant to contribute. Chris Pine was a really good James T. Kirk because even though he seemed a little hard on the edges, he had a sense of humor and he knew how to take control when the situation was dire. He balanced danger and charisma exceedingly well. Zachary Quinto as Spock was consistently entertaining because he managed to turn a very intellectually and emotionally serious character into someone that I rooted for despite his (very) uptight nature. In the end, I wanted to know more about him because I could feel that the character had the potential to evolve. Although Eric Bana as Nero could’ve been used more, I thought he was manacing enough to be the villain-of-the-week. Aside from them, I also enjoyed watching Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, John Cho as Sulu and Simon Pegg as Scotty. But out of all the supporting characters, Yelchin stood out to me the most because of his really thick (and often amusing) Russian accent. (Though I may be a bit biased because I just love him in everything.) I heard that sequels are already planned and I’m excited to see them. Now that the main characters are established, I think the sequel has more than enough chance of being bigger and better by exploring other planets and meeting new life forms. I hope Abrams will stick with this franchise because in each of his projects, he has a certain syle that I cannot help but admire. But best of all, it’s his vision that separates this film from just good to almost great. Older fans of the franchise will most likely nitpick and say something negative. Nonetheless, “Star Trek” is not to be missed. Don’t be fooled by my three-star rating because this is a solid three-and-half-star film. (I just don’t do halves.) I refrained from giving it my best rating because I felt like it somewhat held back from becoming “too epic.”
The Midnight Meat Train
Midnight Meat Train, The (2008)
★★ / ★★★★
Bradley Cooper has come a long way since I first discovered him in “Alias.” Even though he seems like a pretty boy on the outside, he can effectively play characters that have many sides to them. I also have to give him kudos for not playing the same type of character in his movies. In “The Midnight Meat Train,” directed by Ryûhei Kitamura and based on a short story by Clive Barker, Cooper plays a photographer who one day finds out about a butcher (Vinnie Jones) who kills people on the subway after taking pictures of a woman who was being harrassed by a couple of thugs. Wanting to gather more evidence before he approaches the police, he becomes obsessed with the butcher and his girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) becomes worried about his new personality. This film is especially gory and violent which horror fans will undoubtedly love. What’s even better is that it is quite suspenseful especially that one scene when two people decide to break into the killer’s apartment. I just had a feeling that it would go terribly wrong so I had to watch the film through my fingers. What didn’t work for me, though, was the last fifteen minutes. Instead of being a straight-up horror film, it hybridized with the science fiction realm. I understand that this is based on a short story and I shouldn’t hold the movie responsible for following it. I just needed to mention the fact that it did get ridiculous and I even caught myself rolling my eyes because of the ending. It definitely took away some of that realism regarding being attacked by a butcher on a subway in the most gruesome ways. Still, I’m giving this a slight recommendation despite the mediocre rating because it genuinely thrilled and scared me.
The International
International, The (2009)
★★★ / ★★★★
This film, astutely directed by Tom Tykwer, reminded me so much of “The Interpreter” because it’s realistic when it comes to the complexities of international crime and relations. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts star as an Interpol agent and assistant district attorney, respectively; as the two leads get closer to the truth, their morals are questioned, they gamble their lives and the lives of those they love. Their main goal is to bring down the source of international corruption led by the IBBC. To say that that particular task is incredibly difficult is putting it lightly because bringing down the IBBC means dealing with economists, politians, bankers and terrorists. What I admired about this film is its patience: it’s not afraid to let its characters talk about the technical inner workings of banks to the point where the audiences get utterly lost. Although most people will get frustrated with it because they claim to not know what is going on, I enjoyed it because that’s what makes it real. That issue of not knowing made it that much more suspenseful. Speaking of suspense, the writer, Eric Singer, knows how to effectively build tension. Just when you think everything is going to go wrong, nothing does; when you think everything is going to go right, something goes incredibly wrong. Right from the beginning, the film established its craft and intelligence; I felt like I was watching the best episodes of “Alias.” Right away, it was able to show what some people are willing to do in order to accomplish their endgame. This is one of the first adult movies of 2009 and definitely not for everyone. There are not a lot of action scenes but when those action scenes appear, they are intense and heart-pounding. If one is looking for a typical action film, this is not the one to see. However, if one is looking for an intelligent script, moral and business ambiguities, this gets a high recommendation from me.
Turistas
Turistas (2006)
★★★ / ★★★★
I thought I wasn’t going to like this movie because of all the negative reviews so I went into it with very little expectations. It kind of reminded me of a less gory version of “Hostel” because the idea of anti-Americanism was explored a bit. There are three actors that I’m familiar with: Josh Duhamel (“Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”), Melissa George (“Alias”), and Olivia Wilde (“House”) so I was aware with what they can potentially bring to the table. Luckily, they didn’t let me down. The three of them are the smartest and strongest out of the group but will all, some, or none of them survive? The first half of the picture is a bit comedic but there’s that constant feeling of danger looming around the corner. I don’t know if it’s the music of the use of color but the audiences are instantly put in a situation where we wonder when exactly the horror will kick in. I think I enjoyed this picture that much more because every time I would visit a new place, I would always think of the people that live in that particular area–how they think differently than me, what they think of me, and whether I’m doing something wrong that can potentially offend them. This movie takes advantage of that fear and fuses it with other common fears like heights, drowning, getting lost, and chased by people whose goal is to kill. I was particularly impressed with the cavern scenes underwater because not only is the setting beautiful, but the filmmakers made that beautiful place into a battleground. By the end of the film, that place not only becomes ugly due to the events that happened there, it becomes nothing short of horrifying. I was surprised by the negative reviews because I found this movie to be interesting and exciting. I covered my eyes and winced at some parts… and it felt great! If it’s a Friday night and you’re with a group of friends, this is a good choice to see because it’s both easy to make fun of and it has its thrilling moments.
Testosterone
Testosterone (2003)
★ / ★★★★
For some weird reason, ever since I saw David Sutcliffe in “Gilmore Girls,” I knew he’d be a good actor to play a gay character. However, this is not a good movie by any means. The plot is convoluted because of the many manipulative characters and plot twists. I found it hard to feel for Sutcliffe because there wasn’t enough backstory for me to know what really is at stake. His character is the definition of one-dimesional because the only factor that drives his character to do what he does is the mere fact that he’s searching for a boyfriend that left him for no apparent reason. If someone leaves you, you don’t go all the way to Argentina to find out why (and acting like a stalker). You do some soul-searching and hopefully come to a conclusion that the person that left you (if you’re a good person) is not worth it. The main character is just too illogical to be believable. However, I did like that the picture looked like it was filmed in South America. On a different note/problem, I’m all for the fusion of genres but this one tried way too hard to be both comedic and thrilling. I feel that since it couldn’t even master being amusing in the first place, it had no reason to pull the rug under the audiences and suddenly become a thriller. It gave me the feeling that David Moreton, the director, had no idea what he was doing. The only aspect I truly loved about this movie is the casting of Sonia Braga, who played Jennifer Garner’s evil aunt in “Alias.” Every time the camera was on her, I could feel her passion and dedication. It made me wish that the movie was all about her instead of the (boring) gay main character. I should’ve listened to the reviews on Netflix because this really is a horrible picture.
Quantum of Solace
Quantum of Solace (2008)
★★★ / ★★★★
If a person was to read only the first sentence of this review, I would say watch “Casino Royale” right before jumping into “Quantum of Solace” because it is a direct continuation (reminiscent of “Halloween II”–about one hour gap) and there’s plethora of references (such as familiar faces and familiar scenes) to its predecessor. That said, I think this is a good installment in the James Bond franchise but not a great one. Critics complain about how this is not the same Bond they’ve come to know in the past. That argument/complaint has expired since the success of the exemplary “Casino Royale” and I’m not going to get into it. I’ve come to fully accept and love the new Bond (Daniel Craig) even though he reminds me a bit of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).
One of the reasons why I did not like this film as much as I should have was its running time: it’s only about an hour and forty minutes. I felt like the director, Marc Forster, felt pressured to deliver one action scene after another so he somewhat neglected the story. (Most readers should know that the main components I look for in any film genre is a story and an interesting character study.) Although I find the action scenes nothing short of astonishing and jaw-dropping (not to mention flinch-inducing), during its more silent moments, I wanted to know more about Quantum. It is only briefly mentioned in the end and, as much as I hate to admit, I felt a bit cheated.
Judi Dench is back as M and I found her to be more attainable this time around. Instead of just being Craig’s boss, I thought she was like a mother figure to him. As usual, Bond and M’s conversations are astute and electric. Mathieu Amalric as the villainous Dominic Greene, unfortunately, did not work for me. He’s too much of a coward to be horrifying, a total opposite of Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) of “Casino Royale.” Even though both of the villains mentioned previously are merely pawns of the Quantum organization, a villain is supposed to be interesting in the least, the main character’s foil to be sufficient. As for the new Bond girl Camille, played by Olga Kurylenko, I found her to be irritating. The film tries a little too hard to make her a character that deserves the audiences’ sympathy. She’s got nothing on Vesper (Eva Green), if you ask me. As for Craig, I just love watching him because he oozes charisma in every frame (and I have a thing for secret agents). I’m mesmerized by his icy blue eyes (that rope scene when Craig shoots the guy while being suspended in the air made my heart skip a beat). My stand-out scenes include: the rooftop chase, the Quantum agents’ aggregation (that gave me the chills because it implies that terrorists can meet anywhere in public!), the plane attack, and the last scene in the apartment. Those scenes are so exciting, I tried not to blink.
Overall, this is not the best Bond film but it is definitely worth seeing because it serves as a transition to the next installment. In the untitled “Bond 24″ film, I really want to know more about the Quantum organization. They remind me of the SD-6 organization on “Alias” because they have insidious ways of infiltrating the good guys’ agency. In essence, this film is about trust between each crucial character. And I trust the sequel’s promise to be both adrenaline-fueled and, best of all, revelatory.
Hancock, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, P2
Hancock
[ 1 star out of 4 ]
This movie is pretty terrible and the trailers reflected that. This picture not only suffers from a lack of focus but also a lack of aim and resolution. I feel like the filmmakers were coming up with ideas right on the spot as it went along. With a confusing backstory, it was hard for me to care for the characters. I know that the filmmakers are trying to make a funny superhero movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I believe they could have made that kind of film with a better script, visual effects, and with just the right balance of tone and pace. Not even the star power of Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman could save this wreck. Smith’s character was annoying and I felt like I didn’t know anything about him; Theron’s character was moody the whole time; the only character I could stand was Jason Bateman because he has that natural charm. Another problem I had was the lack of a villain. I know that not all superhero films have to have a villain but this one desperately needed it because there’s absolutely nothing that drives the story forward. I felt like we were stuck in one place the whole time and it was sickening. I have nothing more to say other than I expected nothing and was still disappointed. Give this one a pass if you’re highly doubtful of seeing it in the first place.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I liked this installment as equally as its predecessor. The script has a nice balance of action and humor, the characters are interesting, and the visual effects are nothing short of magnificent. Guillermo del Toro has once again outdone himself when it comes to giving his audience creatures that are beyond out of this world. Some of the images reminded me of “Pan’s Labyrinth” only without the dark fairytale that drives the story. I’ve also seen del Toro’s “The Orphanage” and I’m often at awe when it comes to his talent. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, and Doug Jones reprise their roles as Hellboy, Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien, respectively. I felt like four years didn’t go by after the first film because they feel so at home with their characters. Therefore, the pace wasn’t slow because the audiences don’t have to watch the actors become comfortable with their characters. As for the story regarding the Golden Army, Prince Nauda (Luke Goss) and Princess Nauda (Anna Walton), I must admit that I didn’t care much about it as long as the film delivered adrenaline-fueled action scenes. Although the pace may be a little too fast and therefore not answer certain questions, it’s more than forgiven because the fantasy world that they live in is so vast to the point where it’s impossible to find out everything about them in the first place. What this film lacked that the first one thrived in, though, was the backstory regarding Hellboy’s childhood. I thought that the first “Hellboy” had more heart but less action scenes while “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is the complete opposite. Still, if there is going to be a third picture, I’d like to find more about Hellboy’s origins and the unanswered questions that this installment brought up.
P2
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I was pretty surprised that I enjoyed this movie quite a bit because a lot of critics didn’t like it. While I don’t disagree that this is no different than most cat-mouse thrillers out there, I thought it was solid when it came to delivering the thrills. If one expects nothing but to be entertained when it comes to the characters making stupid decisions, the killer popping out of nowhere, and missing opportunities of escape, one will bound to like this picture. Wes Bentley (“American Beauty”) is pretty effective as the parking attendant who terrorizes Rachel Nichols (“Alias”). I wasn’t that surprised to see Bentley as an effective stalker because I noticed a little bit of craziness in his eyes on “American Beauty.” His charisma works worked with him in the beginning and I wish they could’ve established that a little more before diving for the kill. But I was surprised to see Nichols as an effective potential scream queen, which reminded me of a somewhat weak version of Jamie Lee Curtis on “Halloween.” I also really liked the this film was set during Christmas. I will never perceive “Santa Baby” the same way without thinking of someone being held against their own will in a parking structure during Christmas dinners. Despite the film’s inadequacies regarding its background story, the pace of the film is brisk and the tone is cold (yet strangely involving). I recommend this film during sleepovers on a rainy night. (Did I mention that this movie contains one of the most gruesome deaths involving a car in recent memory? I covered my eyes!)
Rogue, La Vie en Rose, Pineapple Express
Rogue (2008)
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I decided to see this film for two reasons: Michael Vartan (due to the fact that “Alias” is one of my favorite TV shows and he made the show that much better) and the giant crocodile that eats people. I wanted to experience suspense and see gore–I got exactly what I wanted. This is a typical horror creature film in such a way that the first thirty minutes has nothing going on except show some fantastic views of the setting. Despite of it being cliché, the formula works for me because it leaves room to establish the characters that we’re supposed to care about prior to the crocodile’s feast. In that respect, even though it hits and misses, I thought the film did a mediocre job. Things quickly picked up when the Radha Mitchell and her group of tourists were attacked by the giant crocodile. They were trapped in a little island where, as each minute passes by, the tide gets higher and higher. They know they have to get out of there but the predicament lies in the crocodile patrolling the waters. I thought all the actors did a pretty good job freaking out and the execution of some ideas (such as the rope scene) hones in on the idea of what people are willing to do in order to save themselves. As for the final battle between a character and the scary giant crocodile, it was thrilling but it was very funny at the same time because it was so ridiculous. It’s almost as if the filmmakers just went for it and reflected the B-movies of the 1980′s. The risks paid off because they tell the audience that the filmmakers weren’t taking the picture too seriously and the audiences shouldn’t either. Overall, I was interested while watching this movie but I thought it could have been a lot better if Sam Worthington was in it a lot more. He provided complexity and a little bit of heart, which the film sort of lacked.
Vie en Rose, La (2007)
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I almost want to give this picture a solid recommendation due to its mesmerizing second half, but I can’t find it in my heart to forgive the extremely slow and uneven first half. When Marion Cotillard (who played Edith Piaf) won the Oscar for Best Actress, I was extremely frustrated with the Academy because I expected Julie Christie to win for playing a woman who was ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease in “Away from Her.” But after watching some of Cotillard’s other films (like “Big Fish”), including “La Vie en Rose,” I realized how much she had to transform in order to play Piaf. I was really impressed because she almost had to carry the entire film by herself. I don’t know if it’s the characters or just the style of filmmaking that turned me off. This film does not have a typical American style biopic because it has many scenes that didn’t help to drive the story forward. Sometimes, the audiences are subjected to see scenes that are designed to muster some sort of an emotion and nothing else. Paif also didn’t click with me because she was a diva. One would think that her traumatic childhood would keep her grounded more than anything else. But that isn’t exactly the filmmakers’ fault because they were only trying to tell the story of what really happened. On other fronts, it was also nice to see Gérard Depardieu even for just a little bit. I wish he was on screen for a lot longer because his presence made the movie have some sort of pop. This film’s detached feel certainly backfired for me. If the second half had been the entire film, I would’ve been perfectly happy because it managed to show some heart. For a film that’s about two hours and twenty minutes, one would think that the film would have more substance. For an excellent biopic, I’d recommend “The Aviator” instead.
Pineapple Express
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I didn’t expect much from this film because I heard about the mixed reviews it received but I did watch it with an open mind. There were some funny scenes but there weren’t enough of them to make the film a stand-out from most stoner comedies out there. Seth Rogen is funny as usual but I didn’t find his acting particularly different from “Superbad” and “Knocked Up.” I felt like he’s the kind of guy who could’ve done more to make the film a bit edgier and politically incorrect… but didn’t. The real star here is James Franco. I didn’t expect him to be so good as a pot head but he nailed the character right on the head. I knew some guys in college who acted and talked like him. Despite the archetypical druggie he’s playing, I found Franco captivating whenever I’d look at him in the eyes. I found some sort of sparkle in his eyes that reminded me that he’s only playing a character which, strangely enough, I found to be a great thing. (Most of the time, I don’t like it when I notice that an actor is merely acting.) There’s nothing much to say about this film because nothing much happened, other than the usual ruckus audiences are expecting to see in stoner comedies. But I must mention that I wish Judd Apatow should consider not putting his name in every movie that comes out because his name is pretty much synonymous with “must watch with high expectations.” I wish this picture would’ve strived for something more because it’s hard not to notice its talented actors not optimizing their potential.
The Bourne Ultimatum, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later
Bourne Ultimatum, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
Jason Bourne pulled a Sydney Bristow. For the fans of the great show called “Alias,” you’ll know what I’m talking about. If not, that’s okay. All the more reason for you to see it. Although I predicted that something like that happened to Bourne, it remains extraordinarily exciting. No one is safe in this supposed final installment. I am immensely glad they had the bravado to kill off a potential main character in the first few scenes, not to mention put Julia Stiles’ beloved character in an unimaginable danger in the roofs. It was so exhilirating, I got numb and shaken at several points throughout the film. The assassins are deadlier, the hand-to-hand combats more real, and the car chases at its best. Not to mention desperation is in the air as characters switch from one side to another in search for the truth. I can only hope they make a fourth movie in the future–I can’t get enough of Jason Bourne! For me, “The Bourne” series has revolutionized the spy-thriller genre in so many levels. Which one is the best “Bourne” movie? All of them. They’re unique in their own way. This one expertly used flashbacks, past dialogues, scenes, character foils, and similar situations that happened in the past two movies. It was eerie yet it provides some form of closure. It reminded me of the last season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It is officially my favourite film series of all time, right next to “Indiana Jones.” “The Bourne Ultimatum” is THE best movie of summer 2007.
28 Days Later
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
The first time I saw this film, I was in total awe because of how well-written and well-executed it was. Cillian Murphy was great as a man who wakes up in a London hospital, completely unaware that the city has been evacuated… and the ones left are the hungry undead. I must admit that I love placing myself in his shoes, knowing that all of it is fictional. But when I actually had a dream that is extremely similar to this film, I was absolutely horrified and woke up soaked in sweat, my heart pounding a thousand beats per minute. The tone of the film is nothing like I’ve ever seen in a horror movie, which was really refreshing. The use of silence is masterful and the scares are first class. Although the movie takes a bit of a dive in its third act, it’s more than forgivable because the rest of the film was eerily consistent. This was also interesting because this is not a zombie film that takes a look at the global crisis. It focuses on one group of people, which means it is more personal and we get to learn more about the characters as the movie goes along… That is, until or if they get infected by the Rage Virus. This is a modern classic zombie film, which I have no doubt will be a horror favourite twenty or fifty years from now.
28 Weeks Later
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
A sequel that is as good, at times better, than its predecessor. What made this movie better than the original is that there were more scenes where the characters were being attacked. With that comes a sense of danger lurking around the corner wherever they go, so the audiences anticipate what’s coming and it becomes engaging. This movie also had some sort of progress: the focus is now on the family rather than the individual like in the first movie. It also embraced a possibility of how the virus infected others society-wise prior to the first scene in “28 Days Later.” Not only that, they also managed to talk about the idea of a mutation and a cure which, as a Biology student, I appreciated because the scientists’ explanations made some sort of sense. What this film lacked, nonetheless, is that bleak tone the first movie had–that sense of hopelessness, misery, and isolation. It also lacked a sense of sadness that the first movie fully grasped. This is a solid effort and, I must say, I’m looking forward to “28 Months Later.”
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.
