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Reviews
La haine (1995)
An original piece that pays tribute to its art form
The story of La Haine is not so clear from the outset. What is this film about, who are these people, what are the rules of their world and why? These are questions that I was asking myself for the first half hour of the film and then I realised that the film is not going to blatantly give me the answers as I'd expect. Instead it's going to slowly unravel them, intriguing me every so often and making me feel smart when I work something out. And that's exactly what happened. I found the story and plot to be fairly original in the sense that we haven't seen this type of story telling before this film. The shape of the dialogue could have been inspired by the likes of Tarantino but it stands on its own. Although the film can deal with brutal themes at times it is very comedic. There are little references to other films as well allowing the viewer to feel clever when they recognize them. The only issue with the story is that it is obviously a story for a specific audience. Not much context around the world of the characters is given making it difficult for westerners to feel sympathy for what the characters are going through because they simply don't understand the gravity of the situation.
Technically, the film works okay. I understand the decision to make this film black and white but I don't think it needs it. It's not a subtle reference to the world of the film so it just feels like one of those wanky artistic decisions. Additionally, some of the shots could have been very beautiful but they simply weren't as they looked cheap. Perhaps the film makers were a little to ambitious and acting outside of what they could actually accomplish neatly. For the most part though the film looks and sounds like a documentary but this really works with the films gritty context.
Acting: Exceptional.
Overall, a nice independent film with an original concept of narrative structure and story telling techniques.
The Walk (2015)
A technical masterpiece.
Story/Pacing: The film is very gimmicky throughout the whole piece making it reasonably fast paced. This is one of those films where the fourth wall is broken by having the main character speak to the audience about his exploits and it seems to work quite well. That being said however, the comedic beats aren't as funny as what the film believes they will be and sometimes only serve to make the film very arrogant. This took me out of the zone of the film on occasion. The characters are certainly not the works of an amateur writer but I felt many of them didn't actually go anywhere, nor did their relationships. The most frustrating was the teacher/student relationship which was set up to be very tense, funny and dramatic but it just wasn't explored enough and it left me feeling very disappointed. Otherwise, the film is reasonably funny and very exciting.
Acting: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting is remarkable. Whether he nails the French accent or not, he is extremely convincing. Ben Kingsley was alright but I didn't really see anything amazing like I'd expect from an actor of his caliber. At the end of his sentences his real accent seems to slip out. To top it off he is actually not in it that much which was mildly disappointing. Everybody else was reasonably good except James Badge Dale who I thought was exceptional as a fast talking but caring semi-hustler.
Technically: The film is a technical masterpiece. Firstly, a lot of the moving shots are very smooth and impressive. Each angle makes sense to the story and even though they can seem wanky they really highlight what film makers can do with the current technology at their disposal. The VFX were simply beautiful. The New York landscapes seemed to have being created with such care and precision that to the untrained eye it is very real. The twin towers were also gorgeous on the big screen. In 3D the look of the film is just magnificent. It is such a rush when you are watching from the top of the towers and the camera is moving around smoothly. I believe its the sense of realism that the CGI gives, which makes the film a technical masterpiece. Lastly, the colour palette is exuberant. There is a B&W scene which has little things highlighted as their natural colors and something about it looks beautiful and natural. The rest of the film is lit and graded very nicely.
Music: Works well with the images on the screen but it certainly doesn't feel original. It sounds a lot like the style of music that is in some of Sam Mendes' films. Very sombre and deep but lifts in moments tension. Not original but it works which is the main thing.
Overall, the film is a technical masterpiece above all else. There is a decent, funny, dramatic and original story being told but the lack of character/relationship development and the beautiful imagery makes the viewer focus more on the look of the film and the adrenaline it provides rather than the story.
Sin nombre (2009)
A beautiful romantic tragedy told from a unique perspective.
Story/Pacing: This story feels very original and real. When it comes down to it, this film is following opposites who slowly become attracted to one another but it is told from a unique perspective making the film feel really genuine and authentic. The film evokes many emotions without thrusting clichés and corny metaphors in front of you and it also keeps moving at a steady pace. The violence is at times brutal but thats mostly due to its context as opposed to the physical actions on screen. The only downside is that several of the minor characters are just not developed enough despite being in the first two acts of the film and acquiring the viewers interests.
Acting: Exceptional and never an unconvincing moment. Sayra and El Casper have believable chemistry while the gang leaders are chillingly evil but the best actor is Kristyan Ferrer who plays El Smiley. You feel his pain, his anger, his happiness and the young actor does it all without breaking a sweat.
Technically/Music: Simplicity certainly works for this film. Overall the film looks somewhat like a documentary and the music accompanying the visuals is subtle. This only adds to the film's authenticity and allows the story and the characters to keep the viewers interested.
Overall, the film is very entertaining, original and emotional and feels very real. Its a film that survives on its plot as opposed to technical capabilities and at just over 90 minutes its a fast paced easy movie.
Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
Easy and decent to watch
Oceans 13 is an end to the Oceans trilogy and it finishes off pretty good. A lot of people were weary about watching this because of the previous Ocean movie and i realise a lot of people didn't like the third one. I personally think that this movie rocks and although its not as good as the first one (what is?) it still kicks but.
The story is about revenge and also a heist on Willie Banks (Al Pacino) who cheated Rubin into giving up his business. Rubin has an attack and almost dies. Danny Ocean and his crew want to get back at Banks and so they take advantage of his Hotel/Casino.
The acting was definitely a 10/10 for everybody and it was a very good idea to get Pacino on board. Clooney, Pitt, Damon and the others are very good and so is Garcia who is actually helping the Ocean crew in this one. It was also good to see Ellen Barkin and Pacino on screen together again for the first time in 19 years. (Sea of Love 1988) I think this movie is way better then Oceans 12 and is easy to watch and understand. I give it 7/8.
The Godfather: The Don's Edition (2007)
Better then the ps2 version
The Godfather the Don's Edition is the same as the version on ps2 but more missions, more side things to do and you can sometimes tell where there are a little bit sharper graphics such as when your driving.
The storyline is exactly the same and so are the characters. There are a few improvements like you can get a hit squad to follow you and the gunfights and explosions are much better looking. probably don't buy this game if your not interested in playing a repeat but just hire it out for the weekend and notice those differences that make it worth playing again.
Overall better then the ps2 version and is definitely worth a look.
The Godfather (2006)
Very well done
The thing that i like most about the game is that it follows the main plot of the movie while also creating a story of its own. In the game you will be able to play the missions from the movie and also do a few that were mentioned but you never saw them. For example you get to be the living crap out of the two guys that beat Bonasera's daughter and you get to sneak into Jack Woltz' mansion and do a little stealth stuff with a garrot wire until you finally reach his bedroom.
The game is kind of like gta with a free roaming mode but i wouldn't say they copied them, gta just created a new saught of thing for gangster games. You can do the usual stuff like on any other mafia game such as killing randoms, stealing cars, robbing banks and bombing places. You can get a good range of weapons and it is pretty cool being able to use 1930's tommy guns, pistols, shotguns and molotovs. The cars are a bit over the top but the handling of them is simple enough. A thing that will get to anyone though is how accurate New York is. You will find that you keep having to look at the huge map in the start menu to make sure that you don't get lost. It will take you about half an hour to get used to controls but once you learn them you are covered.
In the game you will encounter all the same guys you saw in the movie such as Clemenza, Rocco, Al Neri, Tom Hagen etc. The only issue i have with one of the characters is that he is not the same and i am talking about Michael. The guy does not have the same personality and is not the cool smooth Michael that we experienced in the film. James Cann and Robert Duvall reprise their roles and do an excellent job with the voices and so do a few other guys.
I would recommend this game to anyone who is a godfather freak unless you have something wrong with people making it into a game and even if you haven't seen the movie or don't like it, it is a great gangster game.
The Godfather (1972)
Best film ever
Some day and that day may never come i'll call upon you to do a service for me but until that day accept this justice as a gift on my daughters wedding day. (Don Corleone) If you put the Godfather in front of me two years ago i would have told you to get lost. I never watched the film until a year ago and i realised that it wasn't some religious film but one of the most powerful movies ever made. The more i watched it the more i liked it and i believe that i have watched it more then fifty times over the past year. I recommend that if you have not watched it yet you need to get down to the nearest video store and hire it out.
My favourite character in the film would have to be Michael. A war hero and a college boy until he decides that his destiny is to be in the family business. Through out the movie you will notice that he changes from a nice full of life college boy to a smooth, cool mafia don. Al Pacino portrays Michael very well and this was the role that made Pacino famous.
Other characters are Sonny played by James Cann, Tom Hagen played by Robert Duvall, Fredo played by John Cazale and of course Don Vito Corleone played by Marlon Brando. All of these people including Michael Corleone are the family. Brando does an excellent job as the old Don who is wise and powerful and is really the main character. James Cann is the bad tempered Sonny who has a hard time thinking before he acts. Throughout the movie you will like Sonny and you will feel peed off when something bad happens to him. Tom Hagen is the unofficially adopted son of Vito Corleone and the family consiligerie (Can't spell it) who is the brains of the family along with the Don. Fredo is unfortunately the useless son who does not have an idea about what he is doing. Then there are other characters throughout the film like Clemenza, Tessio, Rocco, Al Neri and heaps more.
The movie is about an aging mafia don who refuses to start a business with narcotics but there are four other families in New York who have an interest. An assassination attempt is made on the Don but he does not die. Sonny Who is short tempered takes over the family while the Don is still recovering and wants revenge. The Dons youngest Michael who is the only one who wishes not to be in the business decides that he must stick with his father and kill a crooked cop and Sollozo. The movie starts out in 1945 and carries on to 1955 showing the war of the five families and Michaels rise to Don.
This movie is directed very well by Francis Ford Coppola and is definitely a must see for everyone.
Norbit (2007)
absolutely horrible
The star of Berverley Hills Cop and Metro does it again. An absolute horrible movie. To be honest i think Eddie Murphy is losing it. He is not only acting in horrible movies, he is acting horrible.
This movie is about an abandoned orphan who gets picked on a lot until he is defended by an over weighted girl. Reshbusha (sorry i can't spell it). He then grows up to be her boyfriend and eventually gets married to her. Then his Love from when he was a kid turns up. And his wife gets angry.
The story is very lame and Eddie Murphy's performance is unbelievable. There might be one or two funny lines but thats about it. I believe it might be offensive to some and i would not recommend wasting money on this movie at all.
I would like to think that Eddie Murphy is just going through a bad stage and it will pass but who knows. For a comeback he should do another action comedy of some sort.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Is this the so called best Harry Potter movie?
Before i move into a whole bunch of negativity towards this movie, i'll say that the special effects were great and they are probably the best i have seen in a while. If your hoping to read a good review on this film please do not continue reading. First off I can't say it in any nicer way so... Dumbledore sucked. It was the completely wrong actor to get for the role. His voice was horrible, his personality was very unlike the Dumbledore we read about in the books (which are one of the best series) and whats this stuff about when Dumbledore chokes Harry when Harry's name came out of the goblet. Yea Dumbledore seemed very calm. The lenght of the movie was just a shocker. The book is large and i don't expect them to fit it all in but it could have been possible to make two parts to it instead of just cramping random stuff in. If you have not read the book it will be impossible to get the story line. One of the things that disappointed me most was that the situation with the Dursleys didn't happen. It's such a laugh in the books and the movies where the Dursleys have something horrible happen to them. Instead they had to cut it out and just start of with Harry at the Weasleys. Hermione in this one was so over dramatic and she spent half the time upset. Shes not even like that in the books. I believe in the previous movies (which were excellent) she did a way better job. Overall i think this movie is really unsatisfactory and its nothing compared to the books.