Reviews

Not bad. This movie is well put together in plot, characters, and pace.

This family, caught in a somewhat dystopian world where sound is taboo for surprising reasons, lives in a "soundless" world (right down to their shoes or lack there of).

Real life wife/husband Emily Blunt and John Krasinski do a terrific job playing the careful parents. The story starts off with excellent use of exposition and pulls you into the story background (and current context) without forcing anything.

The best part about this movie: the atmosphere of the quiet world that it creates. The logical details are quite impressive. I felt like I understood the forced lifestyle.

The bad(?) part about this movie: the ending seemed a bit rushed, but I see lots of ways there could be an even better sequel (if done with the same devotion to detail and logic that this movie does a valiant effort in doing).

Please see it.

It's amazing how, even though you love a character all you life, you refuse accept just ANYTHING given to you as media interpretation. That's how I feel about his movie: amazingly disappointing car that just can't get started...

I never was that fond of how they handled Superman since Reeve's 80's movies blew out in Superman III and IV after the superb Superman and (especially) Superman II. Superman Returns was rather boring, but I liked it (go figure)...while Man of Steel was trying to be like the Marvel superhero movies. Too much gloss, but not enough story to keep up with Iron Man or The Avengers...because Supes is not that kind of character.

I thought the actors were fine as their characters, but where was the story? There are sooooo many Batman/Superman comic book stories that the writers could have used for inspiration...or just plain adapted verbatim. I still am not sure why Batman and Superman needed to be adversaries in this movie. It was strange.

I...guess...that this is just a precursor to the REAL movie: The Justice League movie in which the true nature of Superman and the new Batman will be fleshed out. As it stands, though, as much as I am a "DC, Not Marvel" Fan....they have a long way to go with these iconic, franchise characters compared to what movie makers have done with Iron Man and Cap and Spidey (two times actually).

If you don't see this movie, you're not losing out. Try the older Superman movies with Reeves, Batman from the '60's, Keaton's Batman movies form the 80's (especially the first two), and, of course, Bale's AFI bound versions of the 2000s.

I've read all of Dan Brown's books--and the Langdon one's to make a long story short are not necessarily the strongest, so I cannot help but compare this movie to the text. It's Pretty OK.

Hanks is on auto pilot as Langdon, so no complaints...but not Oscars. Felicity Huffman I like, but she does not QUITE fit the profile in the book. She's a little too pretty...not without the quirk of Brooks in the text. All of the other characters that were included in the movie were fine.

Even though I liked the movie--I did--the regular syndrome happens in multiple sequels: diminishing returns in quality. DA VINCI was well plotted. DEMONS was not as well plotted...and INFERNO is worst than that. You have to pay close attention to what everybody tells you and to the flashbacks to get an idea of the story...otherwise, it is a confusing mess.

I am hoping that Hanks comes back for THE LOST SYMBOL, but they may need to get another screenplay writer. Otherwise, that plot will be totally incomprehensible. Again, I liked the movie...and would see it again. Maybe I just like Dan Brown and Langdon...

Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE was long and complicated, so I didn't expect the film to cover it exactly. I don't expect any movie to mimic any book word for word. Only Kenneth Branaugh's HAMLET did that.

The movie adaptation turned out better than I could have expected. Sure they changed some parts. Some parts, of courses, were left out. Overall, they compacted the story. It, however, still worked well. Ron Howard kept the Plot tight, and not one piece of dialogue was wasted.

Tom Hanks played an excellent, realistic college professor. No slickness and No glossy Oscar-worthy clichéd nuances. He played the role straight like it needed. All of the other actors did equally well, but I hold special recognition for Jean Reno and Paul Bettany. Reno WAS Fache and Bettany did his best to balance eerieness and sad piety in Silas.

One warning: YOU MUST PAY ATTENTIION. Like A BEAUTIFUL MIND, 12 ANGRY MEN, and the best episodes of LAW & ORDER, you can't wallow in the clouds while sleepwalking through this film. The best plotted movies waste nothing. Each shot, nuance, word, transition, and musical note forwards the plot or adds to the characterizations.

Again, I don't think the production could have turned out better. No movie adaptation of a book will ever turn out perfectly, especially not one as over-hyped as this one.

When I first saw this movie advertized, I predicted that the experience would amaze me not only because of the attention to detail depicted in every frame but also because of the Victorian/Sexual Repressive theme that dominates Barrie's book/play juxtaposed with the fantasy world. No other story, in my opinion, creates such a striking reality/fantasy world contrast like this except the WIZARD OF OZ.

Of course, this movie did not disappoint me one bit. Up until this point, Disney's PETER PAN stood head and shoulders above all other versions (yes, including Mary Martin). HOOK grew on me, but that movie really did not scream "Vintage Peter Pan". This one does.

The familiar story comes to life in full detail and development...but the attention to the little details really impressed me. Everyone (the darling children, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys) strolled around on barefeet that picked up more and more dirt as the movie progressed. The seen in which the tree trap turned John and Michael upside down while displaying their tushes showed me most memorably the bravery of the filmakers to withdraw from sugarcoating this film (even moreso than the violent fights).

And finally the best part: Peter Pan FINALLY gets played by a boy rather than a girl-before-adolesence. This twist allowed me to see Peter and Wendy's adorable courtship (and Tinker Bell's jealousy)take shape with realism. Touching.

I plan to get this one on DVD.

Now...I wonder if someone will ever do a faithful version of Madeline L'Engle's A WRINKLE IN TIME?

I noticed in MASTER AND COMMANDER that a lot of camera shots and angles resembled ones from MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY 1935 and 1962. Consequently, I worked myself right into enjoying the film completely.

Russell Crowe keeps convincing me that he can play any role put in front of him. After LA CONFIDENTIAL, GLADIATOR, and A BEAUTIFUL MIND, I believe that he can even tackle the ultimate macho role: 007 (Move over, Pierce).

The most pleasant surpise that I found throughout the film occurred within the reunion between Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany (Dr. Stephen Maturin) as they played the two main characters. The chemistry that they displayed in A BEAUTIFUL MIND created a genuine friendship between them that spilled over seemlessly into this movie; they really care about each other in it.

I can't wait for the next one...and I plan to read a few of Patrick O'Brien's books to see what everyone keeps praising so much within them.

Three movies stick out in my head as the best movies that I have seen this decade so far: LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE, and this one.

When I first saw this movie on video, it intrigued me. Since I missed the last 30 minutes of it (I fell asleep.), I ended up disliking it because it confused me. Then I saw it a year later in its entirety by finally seeing the ending and realizing how everything ties up...I was fascinated.

If I used one word to name the theme of this movie, I would use the word: CHOICES. David makes choices in this movie that alter it from beginning to end within his real life and his lucid dreams. In applying to my life, I would learn that we should always (that means AT EVERY MOMENT) make choices that help others, that do not smack of any self-service/self-ambition, and that benefit the good of others. Alternatively, we end up losing everything we hold dear...everything...like David.

We may not get another chance at life, again like David, so we should take every opportunity by living our life as wise (not unwise) in order to get it right this time.

A pleasant story. Lots of soft, pastel colors. Smiley Happy Ponies, laughing.

Two Thumbs up...and I'm a guy! :)