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AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007)
Average upon average
OK, usually I'm someone who enjoys mindless violent action films, but I seriously just could NOT get into this movie. It was so bland and so boring there was not one bit of this movie that scared me {aliens}, awed me with awesome violence {predator - mind a few scenes}, or made me feel anything for this movie. It was like the directors recreated the old movies and decided not to create any story, just that they wanted two bad-ass aliens to duke it out. As I said, I usually go for that, but AVPR just plain SUCKED. I wish they would have done more, such as focusing on the actual ALIEN confrontation of both races.
For example, actually expanding the predator universe and revealing it's culture. Then this movie would have just done better without ANY humans whatsoever because everyone can agree most humans in with the mix of these two bad-ass aliens is either going to die or bore us, except Arnold of course. They could have at least made some likable human characters instead of the two-dimensional trash that many bad movies are plagued with. If they had focused more on the two alien races, their culture, and the battle in-between them I would have found this a lot more interesting and less dull. You could predict every single little thing and the only type of movie that comes from is slasher films, which are a bore as well.
Either way, AVPR is just an average flick that might have done well if it had been in line first before all the other films of each franchise. Other than that, there's nothing worth watching unless you are some slasher film fan.
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)
Had low expectations, found it to be as bad as I thought
As someone who dislikes every Uwe Boll movie made, I at least like to give his movies a chance for his redemption in making a good "it's-so-bad" movie and after watching this movie, I'm 99% certain he will never go beyond "average" movies. Everything was simply predictable and so much didn't fit here or there. Let's start from the beginning, shall we? In the first few minutes of the movie, it wasn't that bad. Despite the lack of motivation from the actors/actresses to actually act, I was somewhat surprised by the "fun" feeling I get from bad movies. However, that soon changed when the first battle with the LOTR orc-lookalikes attacked and started to raise hell. It was like watching an episode right out of Hercules: The Legendary Journey, except there was no Kevin Sorbo. Everything from that point on was below average and just dull. The acting, the fighting, the music was way out of place and overused at some times, and the editing was TERRIBLE. I tried watching it as much as I could, but about half-way through began speeding it up every few minutes to see what happen next. In the end, it was just another bad movie.
Now, moving away from the cons about this movie, there are some pros I did like about it. Some of the special effects were actually pretty cool and some of the fighting wasn't that bad with Jason doing his usual kick-kick-strike-kick-kick-strike combo like in Transporter. These are the only reasons I'm not giving it a 1 because Jason is an awesome guy who simply got screwed into making this movie. Not just him either, but every actor/actress in this movie was at some point somebody I loved, yet was TERRIBLY miscast. I sympathize with their situation and hope this doesn't hurt their careers in the long run, besides the has-beens.
Overall, this is just another bad Boll movie. It doesn't even come close to being average and looks like a LOTR rip-off rather than some video game adaptation. I no longer have the slightest hope that Uwe will actually do something good in his future. STOP GIVING HIM LICENSES TO MAKE THESE MOVIES!
300 (2006)
A Masterpiece of Its' Own
In my many years of watching movies it is a rare thing for me to actually write a review. In fact I've only written one or two while I've been here on IMDb, but the reason behind that is simple; only the movies that reach me will ever get my attention, and "300" has.
I knew from the trailers I would like this movie. It's my kind of movie. An over-the-top action film that doesn't draw out boringly or stall the story, nor does it avert my eyes to more entertaining things. "300" is a movie worth watching no matter what anyone says. And now let me display my emotion by splitting my thoughts into categories. First off, let's start with the story.
Storyline: Yes, this is a predictable story that really doesn't sound that interesting since it's probably been done thousands of times before, but there is something many people overlook in sake of being "intelligently challenged". And that is HOW the story is told. Some times scripts can be weak or terrible, but the translation from words to images is something the director must do and I must give a "Ho!" to Zack for successfully telling the story of Frank Miller's adaptation.
The story here, though predictable, is told very well. It brings you into the battle and into each choice the soldiers make. It makes you feel that raw gritty emotion of pride and glory that booms from the speakers around you. And it hardly stalls itself. You are always zoomed into what is happening like you are actually there as everything flows together smoothly. The only thing that stalled to me, even though just a little bit, was the scene of the Queen and Theron as she submitted to his pleasure for sake of getting an audience. It was sort of unneeded, but it did develop a stronger distaste for the political bad guy and made his death that much sweeter. it also helped move the ending along so it was and wasn't needed if that makes any sense.
Overall, I give the storyline a 9/10.
Acting: And now we come to the acting. Overacted? Somewhat. But there weren't any terrible performances I saw. Some actors/actresses were weaker than others while Gerald and the soldiers played their characters well. I've read over half of the graphic novel myself and I must say Gerald nailed that character down as well as the others. It was mainly Lena's acting and maybe one or two of the lesser-known Spartans that were average or above.
Overall the acting was great in some parts while average in others, I give it a 7.5/10.
Graphics: What can I say? Those were some damn good graphics for a movie done mostly in green/blue screens and nothing looked too round or too blocky. The blood itself, even though CGI itself, created the comic book feel and was actually quite cool. It really created the atmosphere of the action and the graphic novel feel to a whole new level. This movie probably will change how film-makers do their films.
9.5/10
Action: I don't have say anything to let you know how much I enjoyed that action. Very stylized. Very violet. Very AWESOME! Even in the beginning I was screaming out "Ho!" with the soldiers as it really hyped me up. There was awesome kills after awesome kills and just mind-boggling kills that really made those Spartans look like bad-asses to the EXTREME. This mother ****er gets a 10/10.
Overall View: This movie is very loyal to the graphic novel, it is above average acted out, great graphics, great action, and great storytelling. Any flaws I saw are easily forgivable and forgettable. This movie is something any action or war fan should enjoy. Don't reference to LOTR or Gladiator. "300" is its' own ****ing masterpiece.
I give "300" a 10/10. I don't give two ****s what people think of that. You either like it or you don't.
Other things people should know: Anybody who bitches about historical accuracy must not be paying attention to the movie because excluding the weird creatures, rhinos, and the elephants, it was a lot more accurate than people think. It's just stupid and pathetic nit-picking. Don't go to this movie to learn something. Go to this movie to be entertained to the fullest. If you can't do that then I bet your as dry as my grandpa's a**.
And one other thing. **** Iranians who complain about this movie. I saw no relevance whatsoever.
Can I get a Ho??!!
Yôkai daisensô (2005)
A beautiful movie
Now, I have seen a lot of movies in my day, but out of every single one there have been a very select few that have been really good to me. And I'm a 19 year old man which is impressed by this movie directed towards a younger audience. This is a very underrated gem for those who watch foreign movies. Almost all the acting is believable, the graphics are decent (for which you won't even be caring about as you watch the movie. Trust me, bitching about the graphics would be a stupid thing to do), the story is well written and it's a movie that everyone can enjoy not just the kids.
Here's basically what this movie made me to. It one, made me laugh...a lot, two, made me feel for the characters like you're suppose to, and three, it's a very uplifting story. By the end of this movie you will feel good. Sure, what anime out there hasn't featured some young kid turning into a great warrior and whatever to defeat some great evil. It's a formula that is used a lot. But, in this case it is forgivable because even though they use puppets for some characters and some average graphics you'd see 5 years ago, the appearance of it is not to be judged. It's very touching, the ending is original, and it keeps you into the movie like it is suppose to. If you however try comparing this to other movies like "The Never-ending Story" or whatever it will diverse your opinion. Watch it as it is and you will enjoy it.
It has been a good long while since I've been impressed like this. The only other movie where I have gotten this feeling is when I saw TMNT way back when it came out. There is something about this movie I felt about TMNT that really made me love it. So don't over-analyze or take this movie too seriously, just enjoy it.