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Reviews
Bloody Murder (2000)
Bloody awful
This was just lame the whole way through. Awful acting, little gore with most murders being off camera.
A really blatant attempt at misleading you as to the identity of the villain.
That's £1.50 and 90 minutes I'll never get back.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Edited to pieces, saved by the final third (Day Lewis ruled)
You could literally see in a couple of scenes where bits were cut out. The first two thirds were pretty uninteresting, as if they had kept only what was needed for the plot (and even then there were some pretty big jumps in logic).
Once Amsterdam had set himself up in opposition against The Butcher the pace picked up and the film was a lot more enjoyable (this was to late for a friend of mine who had already walked out through boredom), but overall it was disappointing.
I could definitely believe rumours of a great 4 hour version sitting around somewhere, but the cinema release was sub-standard for Scorsese.
Minority Report (2002)
Good film, huge plot holes.
There was no evidence to lead him to his son's 'killer' to murder him in the first place, so that section was a huge paradox.
Also, at the end when Burgess and Anderton face off, they have no idea that the precogs had seen a murder, they had not been in contact with anyone at the temple. So Cruise talked him out of killing him without any knowledge of the future, so the precogs would never have predicted it.
Maybe these things were explained in the book, I haven't read it so i don't know, but they were glaring holes in the film.
The Last Castle (2001)
Predictable ending.
This was a fairly solid seven pointer until the climax which was pretty weak and you saw everything coming before it happened. Good performances from Redford and Gandolfini in particular, rounding off a very good cast let down by the finale.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Simply Perfect
Normally, no matter how good a film is, there are moments where you think (in that unqualified, ignorant arrogant way all film go-ers, whether ocassional or regular, have) "I wouldn't have done it like that", or "that would have been better if they did this". I can't find a single moment like that in this film. I walked out of the cinema with a feeling of elation I have never been able to match, and numerous re-watchings haven't dulled a moment of my enjoyment. The cast is perfect, inhabiting their roles with absolute conviction. The plot is clever in an age where most Hollywood films are insultingly stupid. Marvelous.
Lucky Break (2001)
Well, yeah, y'know, 'spose it was ok.
The kind of film that does get much of a reaction from you. Some Ok laughs, some ,mildly touching moment and one very sad moment that worked so well thanks to Tim Spall's excellent performance. The acting was very good,the plot was fine, but the script lacked a little sparkle.
Planet of the Apes (2001)
What was the point?
Until the end of the film this was an entertaining 6 out of 10. It lost a mark at the end for leaving a bad taste in the mouth thanks to an appalling and ridiculous ending. It made no sense. Until then it was an entertaining film. Visually amazing, the make up superb and Carter and Roth gave excellent performances. The story just never sparkled, however. This may be connected to the fact that Walberg doesn't have much screen presence. Comparing to Heston for a second (not just to compare to the original, but also to compare to a great leading actor), he commanded the screen, made you care what was happening and drew you into the film. Marky Mark may know how to model underwear, but a great actor he aint. There is something about him that made me just not care.
At the end of the day, unless you've something new to say on the subject, someway to improve it beyond dated makeup, remakes are just pointless.
The Parole Officer (2001)
Old fashioned comedy caper fun.
Considering Coogan was part of a new wave of comedians in the nineties, coming through with people like the currently controversial Chris Morris, it's surprising to find him making such an old fashioned type of film. The parole Officer is entertaining and fun in an inoffensive kind of way. Not in a bland Hollywood Freddy Prinze Jr kind of way. Just that it isn't trying to rock the boat or push any limits, it just skips all that crap and tells an amusing story. Refreshing and funny.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
I hope you are watching Hollywood!
That is how to scare the crap out of someone! Confused cameras and no clear pictures of the beast until late on lets your imagination run wild. It deals with the folklore surrounding Werewolves in a clever and considered manner. Great acting from the two girls particularly as well as the whole cast helped draw you in. Initially I dislike the two central character and wondered if I would care when things got going, but they manage to suck you right in to their situation. I'm sure writer/director Michael Fawcett has a big career ahead of him (probably in Hollywood where his talent can be watered down to suit mass marketing better).
Swordfish (2001)
I shouldn't have enjoyed this, but I did.
Swordfish starts by stating that most of what Hollywood puts out is s**t and that they always go with the happy ending, the bad guy never gets away.
That summed the film up really. It was a s**t film and the bad guy gets away (Although the ending also has a nauseating Hollywood happy ending at the same time).
It is quite enjoyable, carried by a great performance by Hugh Jackman and a very good one by Berry. Travolta is a more restrained version of his annoying Face Off and Broken Arrow performances, but lacks a spark somewhere.
It's an incredibly stupid film, but it's a laugh and at least it's not Tomb Raider.