nukfan's Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

9/10

A spectacular return to the Star Wars cinematic universe.

28 December 2015

Though I will freely admit that I saw this movie through rose-tinted glasses, I can safely say that The Force Awakens, after two viewings, met all of my expectations. This is a pure action-adventure science fiction film, and its 135 minutes run at an absolute tear from beginning to end, with little quarter given. In short: it is, technically speaking, exactly what the anti-prequel crowd was looking for.

I, for one, do not count myself among that crowd. I grew up with Episodes I-III, so they will always have a place in my heart, even if their flaws have become more and more apparent to me over the years. These flaws (poor dialogue, questionable direction, uneven pacing, awkward romances) have been duly noted by J.J. Abrams. The dialogue in Episode VII isn't award-worthy, but it's efficient and well-spoken. The movie moves between characters and locations seamlessly, maintaining a focused, exciting, yet simple story throughout. In my opinion, all of the actors have really solid chemistry, and I especially look forward to seeing more of the newest characters.

John Boyega fits the young, flawed hero role like a glove. Finn is a very easy guy to like very quickly. I forgot that this was Daisy Ridley's first major motion picture almost immediately; I enjoyed watching Rey learn what she's capable of. I've saved my highest praise for Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, however. He almost never falls short of intimidating, but his very emotional approach to the Dark Side gives him more depth than the screenwriters were obligated to give him. I appreciated this.

I think my complaints primarily centre around certain elements of the film that felt too familiar. There has been widespread talk that the film emulates far too much of previous Star Wars films. I'd say this is perhaps objectively true, but how much it affects your experience really depends on what attitude you go into the movie with. There were a small number of moments where I felt like the production team should have gone for something more original, but it's hard to be too upset when you have a goofy grin on your face for more than two hours.

In the great words of our lord: "I laughed, I cried, I lost ten pounds". I'd tell you to go see this movie, but you already have. I'm excited for what the future will bring for this franchise.

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It Follows (2014)

7/10

Exposes you through fear; the tension is key.

24 October 2015

Warning: Spoilers

For years, I've been waiting for a movie that properly exploits my nightmares. Horror movies in general are a tough sell for me. I find them to be fairly predictable, ridden with clichés and not remotely subtle. The threat never has any mystique, and the implications are underwhelming.

"It Follows" manages, particularly for the first hour, to tap into some kind of primal fear that I had long forgotten or at least rarely dealt with. Something needs to be said for the cinematography; it's always ominous, and every scene is laced with a darkness that reminds you never to forget about the threat.

Imagine you're being followed by something. Something capable of dealing tremendous pain and suffering through uncertain methods. It always moves at a walking pace, but it is always moving. When you're asleep, it gains ground on you. When you're standing still, its eyes are doing their best to bore into your very soul. It never loses focus. When you see it, it's unequivocally staring right back at you, slowing gaining ground. The eyes are technically human, but there is an uncanny nature to them. It wants to get you through physical means.

It's really not enough to describe this kind of tension, but that's probably the best way for me to sum it up. The music during these scenes is flawless and it plays a kind of role of its own. There were times during the first hour when the tension was wholly unbearable. It made me feel vulnerable and cold.

Unfortunately, the film loses steam in the final act. The horrific mystique of the first hour fades into a kind of peculiar mystery, and I think the ending contradicts the nature of the film as a whole; I didn't want to see a final showdown, I wanted to see how long the filmmakers could string out the tension.

I recommend watching this alone and in the dark. This is a must-see film that corrupts your sense of security and brings back the nightmares you abandoned long ago.

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Premium Rush (2012)

8/10

Lots of fun to watch

30 May 2015

This is a prime example of an action movie made by people who truly know the craft. The film is for the most part lightning-quick and visually pleasing, the characters aren't incredibly deep, but acted well with all the necessary tropes, and amidst it all, there's something at stake.

The filmmakers don't try to sugarcoat anything with respect to character development; Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Wiley" is introduced as a likable guy doing a job because he loves it and isn't seeing eye to eye with his girlfriend, but thankfully there's no melodrama.

Other than that, we're given a villain who is easy to dislike with his pathetic, slimy personality. These components, combined with the value of the envelope Wiley must deliver actually make the movie fairly intense at times, though it's always at least fun. There's a definite sense of humour as well.

Only complaint is that there are moments where the pacing kind of drags relative to the rest of the film when the bikes aren't involved. Easily overlooked.

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The Score (2001)

7/10

A technically well-made film that depends fairly significantly on its star power

17 May 2015

I can't help but feel that this movie would be far less interesting if not for the intriguing trio of Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando. It doesn't even have a lot to do with their acting, which is solid from each.

De Niro is a more cautious version of his cool, professional persona, Brando is enjoying himself as an easygoing late-career mobster, and Norton handles a character whose quirk involves acting as a mentally challenged individual skillfully, managing to be completely inoffensive and uncannily convincing when the plot calls for it.

The conclusion of the film unfolds swiftly, especially when compared to the film's two hour length (I felt that, with respect to the small number of characters and the focused nature of the plot, this could have been reduced to 100, maybe even 90 minutes). Norton's character, impressive due to his skills despite being "inexperienced", is perhaps slighted by the screenplay at the end, but I'll leave that up to you.

The main characters are fairly well written. This, combined with the faces that we see speaking these lines, make the film interesting, despite being a little long and lacklustre in the suspense department.

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The Sacrament (2013)

4/10

Makes the most of what it has...

23 August 2014

If The Sacrament has anything going for it, it would be how much the filmmakers accomplished with such a small budget. The colony is a worthy achievement; a lot of time and effort has been put into constructing the huts and various buildings. The isolation of the colony and the complacency of its inhabitants effectively establishes an eerie vibe and these are the main reasons why the first half of the film is the strongest. What tension there is builds slowly, and your time isn't wasted with jump scares and cheap thrills. Also, I appreciate, despite the fact that this is a found-footage film, that the camera isn't too shaky.

As a whole, unfortunately, The Sacrament is ultimately ineffective as a horror/thriller film. Ti West and company have derived a lot of inspiration from the Jonesville mass suicide in 1978, and this ends up being a negative contribution to the film. I have watched harrowing TV documentaries regarding this truly horrifying moment in human history, but The Sacrament is simply as predictable as any routine horror film. I made the Jim Jones connection very early on. The appearance of Gene Jones as "Father" only confirmed this connection, though Jones is definitely a wonderful member of the cast and I applaud the filmmakers for tracking him down.

I'm sure that there was a way to make this work. But the resemblances to Jonesville render the film practically unnecessary; I knew exactly what was going to happen. I understand that the film was based on a very disturbing event, but that doesn't give it a free pass. From a historic point of view, this is an interesting representation of Jim Jones' cult. But from a creative point of view, the film is ultimately an hour of slow -building tension with a restrained payoff. A good twist or perhaps taking the Jonesville concept in a unique direction would have given this a few more stars from me.

In conclusion, I recommend this for people who have never heard of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. For everyone else, I can't say the same.

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The Walking Dead: The Grove (2014)

Season 4, Episode 14

10/10

Dark Territory

18 March 2014

Warning: Spoilers

This is a unique episode thematically. Beyond just the overlying survival-horror aspect that has been the framework of the show, we delve into sociopath behaviour and the ability to forgive.

Lizzie meets her destiny as she embraces her inner demons. Some humanity is definitely lost for everyone, even for those who felt they could lose no more. This episode further establishes the show as truly elite; it shows us imagery we wouldn't normally imagine ever seeing on prime-time television. It isn't intrinsically explicit, it's just indicative of how the Walking Dead has never been a show to shy away from the real world, where impossible decisions have to be made, and sometimes children end up casualties as a result.

Despite everything that has happened so far, this is the darkest episode of the series. Yet, as the episode ends, we are some how reassured, because someone has found closure amid the horror, and this closure has managed to be a more powerful force than death and killing.

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Hellboy (2004)

8/10

A Unique and Visually Impressive Film

7 March 2014

Hellboy is a very well-crafted visual treat. It makes fantastic use of both CGI and practical makeup to create its illusions. Ron Perlman as Hellboy (or "Red") is particularly impressive, especially when you consider how much of a pain it would have been to prepare for that role with all of that makeup and prosthetic material every single day.

The plot is "save the world" type of stuff, but that's fine, because a movie as stylish as this has no time or need to dwell on complex subplots and dialogue; it's supposed to be fun.

The movie has a lot of funny little quirks on top of the visual effects. Hellboy happens to be a very charming, funny character who lives up to his appearance with his personality.

Despite the richness of its effects, I found the movie to be surprisingly restrained. Not significantly so, but we have Hellboy, we Abe Sapien (also cool) and we have some scary looking "hounds" that have tentacles and long tongues. But it probably could have been more diverse. The movie is 130 minutes long, but it just doesn't feel like it makes the most of that running time.

Regardless, it's a unique and very entertaining comic book movie.

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American Gangster (2007)

10/10

Immensely Satisfying Crime Film

24 February 2014

Movies like these can't work without the right cast. I mean, I shouldn't even have to say that. It's a rule. There are plenty of different kinds of movies that can get by on style, visuals, or action all on their own. But what separates a movie like "Gangster Squad" from a movie like "American Gangster" is the cast, and how the cast is used. It has to be both.

There are lots of familiar faces in this film. On top of Washington and Crowe, you have Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba and Josh Brolin. The director is Ridley Scott, a man who knows how to helm ambitious projects, like "Black Hawk Down", "Gladiator" and "Kingdom of Heaven". The pieces are all there.

One of "American Gangster"'s biggest strengths is that there is a rich cast of characters, but the viewer is never lost, because the focus is primarily on Denzel Washington's Frank Lucas, and Russell Crowe's Richie Roberts. They carry the film, as they certainly should.

The plot is centred around a lengthy crusade by Roberts and his team to get to the bottom of New York's biggest drug conspiracy, which is of course being controlled by Lucas. This is a major theme regarding Lucas; he likes to be in control, to be able to gun down a man he doesn't like in the middle of a crowded sidewalk without any consequences. As a result, this makes his character seem all the more vulnerable when he isn't in total control of his situation.

At the same time, Roberts is fighting more than just drug crime. He isn't the most honest guy, but he just might be the most honest cop. He is repulsed by crooked cops, and as a result he estranges himself from most of his workplace kin. So, as he fights to nail down the source of the drugs, he is also fighting against everyone who considered him a "boy scout" whenever he did what he felt was right.

Everything comes together in a conclusion that rewards anyone who takes the time to savour every moment of the film's 160 minutes. I rank this among the finest crime dramas I've watched.

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Europa Report (2013)

7/10

Beautiful film that takes its time.

4 February 2014

I have to give the director credit for making the absolute most of his 10 million dollar budget. The film's special effects are as convincing as any big budget project of the 21st century.

Aside from the visuals, the film's greatest strength is its pace. Cordero was clearly in no rush to let the film dilute into clichés and jump scares. There is genuine tension in the film thanks to an ominous soundtrack and the eerie silence of the film's setting. And, as always, less is more.

This movie made something like $100,000 at the box office. I can see it becoming a very underrated cult classic, and I will very likely watch it again.

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Princess Mononoke (1997)

10/10

A Beautiful, Thoughtful Fantasy

12 January 2014

This movie has effectively reinvigorated my love of Japanese animation. Up until I was 10 or 11, I found a lot of enjoyment in shows like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, like many other children my age. I also really enjoyed staying up late and watching some of the darker, more violent animes on TV like Inuyasha, Gundam and Bleach (despite not understanding the plots sometimes).

For the next 7 years, I didn't watch any anime. I blame that on my peers in middle school who liked to make fun of people who watched it (and, as a result, I also blame my own self-consciousness). Though I've never returned to any of the shows I mentioned before since I have outgrown some of them (with the exception of the Pokemon video games), Princess Mononoke has kindled a new flame for me; I want to watch anime again.

There isn't a single element of the film that Miyazaki and his animation team haven't poured their hearts and souls into. The characters and environments breathe on the screen, and the historical Japanese setting- especially the most significant forest in the film- is on par with any fantastical world that I've ever immersed myself in, including the likes of Middle-Earth and the Star Wars universe.

The plot is fantasy, but it is laced with metaphors and philosophical themes, such as a rather vengeful form of environmental awareness... perhaps it's best to refer to it simply as "environmental revenge". Iron Town is particularly interesting, since its goals are fundamentally opposed to those of the forest spirits, yet its residents are not unkind, or driven by any form of manifest destiny (for the most part); in fact, it would be unreasonable to refer to any character in this film as an antagonist. Everyone's motives are justified one way or another.

The voice acting is quite literally of Hollywood quality, unlike most English-dubbed anime productions. Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Gillian Anderson and Minnie Driver sound much more fluid and natural than the sometimes stale offerings on an average anime TV show. There are hiccups on rare occasions, but they are swiftly forgotten and forgiven.

Above all else, Princess Mononoke leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. It has inspired me to watch the rest of Miyazaki's work, and if you're wanting to introduce yourself to the anime genre, this is the way to do it.

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Amadeus (1984)

8/10

Lovingly crafted, musical, emotional drama

26 November 2013

F. Murray Abraham and Thomas Hulce star as Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, respectively, in this lavish period piece. I say "lavish" because among the film's greatest strengths is its visual style, including the sets, the costumes and the cinematography.

The film is a slow-burning drama that focuses on character emotion and its connection with the music of the composers in the film. We are always peering deep into the souls of Salieri and Mozart as they live with their passion for music. Salieri is particularly fascinating because of his deep admiration, hatred and jealousy of Mozart all at once; he speaks of his music with great reverence, yet bears a deep grudge against God for making the composer of such music a man as arrogant and childish as Mozart, though Salieri himself needs to look in the mirror.

The music is integrated beautifully with the film, either as simply its score, or to correspond with a character reading or imagining certain musical pieces. It's a consistently beautiful film, but it can drag on when it takes its time with a scene; the drama isn't tense so much as it is in a constant state of rising and falling emotion, much like the music itself.

It's a very good film, but if I had to, I'd say that watching it must be similar to going to the opera, an activity that I can only speculate upon, since I've never been; kind of boring, but beautiful and meaningful all the same.

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Primal Fear (1996)

9/10

Highly entertaining and well acted court drama

26 November 2013

Primal fear benefits first and foremost from rock solid performances by all involved. Richard Gere is cool and confident as defense attorney Martin Vail, and brings a lot of charm with his performance. Laura Linney portrays Janet Venable, the cold prosecutor that was once romantically involved with Vail, and this sparks competitive chemistry between the two.

Edward Norton's Aaron is unquestionably the standout here. All of his little quirks make for a very curious alleged murderer; he is a very effective character.

The plot is clear and easy to follow, aided by concise dialogue. The film doesn't rely on a complex story, it instead chooses to rivet you as Vail tries to dig deeper into a case that seems like a foregone conclusion. The film is primarily a court drama, but it finds time to delve into darker territory in moments.

The ending is the big payoff it wants to be, though I wont get into detail because tension is built masterfully up until all is said and done, and when the credits are rolling you will be very satisfied. This is a must-see.

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The Walking Dead: Live Bait (2013)

Season 4, Episode 6

8/10

A great episode that adds depth to the Governor

19 November 2013

Warning: Spoilers

"Live bait" provided an entertaining (if not needed) break from the main cast. Of course, the previous episode ended with a bit of a twist, as the governor was shown to be standing outside the prison. This episode doesn't follow that up; it instead provides a back-story.

More interesting characters are introduced, and now rooting against the Governor... I mean, Brian... is going to be a serious task. His story has always been a tragic one, but now we are shown a different side of him. A beaten, longing side.

Nothing totally groundbreaking in this one, but it's one of those episodes that is continuing the escalation to a dramatic climax for later on in the season.

8/10

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Dogma (1999)

8/10

A Funny, Charming Fantasy

20 October 2013

Dogma has plenty of funny religion-themed gags, but I was entertained by it mainly because I liked just about all of the characters and I enjoyed most of their dialogue.

There's not a lot of substance behind what they're saying, unlike in, say, Tarantino's films, but the fact that it's all fairly low-brow and goofy is what makes it good. Jay and Bob are fantastic with their little stoner quips.

The plot is fairly weak, but it's not supposed to be brilliant. It's easy to tell that Kevin Smith just enjoys playing around with Catholicism by poking and prodding at it.

Also, George Carlin is what was his usual comedic self in his cameo.

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Elysium (I) (2013)

8/10

A Great Summer Sci-Fi Movie

12 August 2013

Neil Blomkamp's directorial follow-up to District 9 only makes it more official that he is the future of Science Fiction films. Once again, he has created a gritty, violent, believable world to set the stage for a character's journey.

It is evident that Blomkamp is totally committed to detail. 22nd century Earth is filthy and undesirable, it's inhabitants desperate, sick and constantly teased by the contrasting paradise in the planet's orbit. Matt Damon's Max reminds me a lot of Sharlto Copley in District 9. Max is more human than hero, and it shows for most of the film. He's willing to do whatever it takes to survive. And while he is a good person, he is not the typical Hollywood altruistic hero that we're all so used to.

The special effects put on a display of just how much computers can do these days. High-tech gadgets and vehicles look sophisticated, yet worn and dirty. Good use is also made of live-action special effects, something that is criminally under-valued in the eyes of so many directors.

Jodie Foster, not surprisingly, gives a seemingly effortless performance as one of two main antagonists. Sharlto Copley gets the golden star for his role as Agent Kruger; I'll let you see him for yourself.

Hard to find anything to complain about with this movie. The script is action movie stuff, and it certainly isn't an all-time classic. I'd give it a purchase once it hit the shelves, though. It's great escapism for 2 hours.

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Apollo 18 (2011)

5/10

I'll give it credit for trying.

12 August 2013

The best thing about Apollo 18 is perhaps how authentic it looks; the "found footage" looks like the moon footage that you see of Neil Armstrong and company, lots of detail was put into the spacecraft design, and the special effects are above average. I didn't find myself very invested emotionally in the characters, but they aren't total cardboard cutouts.

The film also obeyed the "less is more" rule with horror movies of this kind. The film teases you with blurry, disturbing shots of... who knows what. As previously demonstrated in movies like Jaws and Alien, it's more effective than the typical in-your-face style of other horror movies.

Other than that, there isn't much that I can say for it. While there is a certain anticipation, the final delivery is just OK. The movie is over in a flash, but it doesn't have the same scope of films like Cloverfield, or the actual horror of films like Quarantine.

The bottom line is that while this is not an unenjoyable movie, I won't be watching it again.

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Gangster Squad (2013)

5/10

Lacking the wit and emotion of a real mob movie

26 April 2013

Gangster Squad is, for the most part, good fun. Don't expect a dark, twist-filled plot that movies like Goodfellas and The Departed managed to deliver. This is an action movie, plain and simple. It's like a mob movie for teenagers.

First, the pros. Gangster Squad is loaded with Hollywood's most familiar faces, even Terminator 2's Robert Patrick. It's always good to see people that you recognize from other films, especially if you tend to like their work. Secondly, I always like when there's a team of heroes in a movie. Something about watching different characters interact and form strategies with each other is a thrill on its own. There are also some very impressive moments from Sean Penn.

The cons. The script is pretty dry. No one ever says anything particularly interesting; every line is used to simply move the plot along, not to add to it. Sean Penn is convincing enough and has good moments, but he is for the most part poorly used. He is a pure caricature of evil. I can't quite explain it, but he's not terrifying to watch. He isn't a memorable villain. This leads to my next complaint: it doesn't feel like there is anything at stake. We are told what's at stake, but we know better than that, as seasoned moviegoers. I found the final showdown to be boring and anti-climactic.

In short, rent it. It's worth seeing once if you like action movies.

**1/2 / *****

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Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

6/10

Visually stunning, yet slow Star Trek film debut

26 April 2013

I've been trying to track down this film for a little while, as it's very difficult to find on DVD. I managed to finally get my hands on it when I purchased the Star Trek film collection on Blu Ray. I don't consider myself to be a Trekkie, but I consider myself to be a science fiction fan, and having seen a few episodes of the original series, I know that the show's strength lies in its dialogue, characters and ideas.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture does not disappoint visually, especially in high def. The effects have held up in much the same way that Star Wars' effects have; the miniatures are sleek, and the lighting creates a rather convincing outer space illusion from time to time. There are also "2001: A Space Odyssey" vibes on a regular basis.

However, instead of being consistently stimulated, I found myself yearning for more character interactions. I wanted to see Kirk investigate unfamiliar territory with Spock, McCoy and a poor ensign chap. Bottom line, I wanted more action. All of the characters, even Kirk, play second banana to the sets and special effects, which I found to be rather boring.

However, I feel like this was a good start for me to get into the Star Trek films, and I look forward to watching the rest of them.

*** / *****

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Prometheus (I) (2012)

10/10

Sci Fi Horror at its best

10 June 2012

Perhaps the trailers are a little bit misleading. This film is not dedicated to terrifying you from beginning to end. it is not a haunted house. It is dedicated to making you think, and ask questions, with or without the benefit of seeing the Alien series.

But it will terrify you.

The film develops its characters well. The acting is convincing, especially from the likes of Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender. Ridley Scott has once again devised a great female lead (the notable other being, of course, Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver) who you will respect, admire, and root for, whether or not you agree with her religious beliefs (I did not). Fassbender plays a great android. Doesn't sound like praise? Trust me, it is. Everyone else is more than satisfactory, as they all react realistically (I can assume) to what they deal with.

I won't give anything specific away, but there are multiple genuinely horrific sequences in the film, and the ending... well, some of you might like it, some of you won't. That's for sure. I loved it. That is also for sure.

Go in with an open, thoughtful mind, and you're in for a treat.

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Moneyball (2011)

A Fantastic and Un-Clicheed Sports Film

24 September 2011

I just saw this movie, and I have to say, it's one of the better sports movies that I've seen. It starts off with a brief glimpse at the Oakland A's demise in the 2001 playoffs vs the Yankees, in which they coughed up a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-5 ALDS. Following this heartbreaking defeat, the team is essentially dismantled. They lose their top players (Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and Jason Isringhausen), and are forced to rebuild.

Like most sports movies, it at least partially focuses on every MLB player's main goal: to win a World Series. But it's also about more than that. In "The Natural", it's about an old, injured coulda-been that strives to meet his former potential. In "Field of Dreams", it's about the love of the game, and how it unites people. In "Moneyball", it's about one man's apparent desire to change the game by looking at nothing but On-Base Percentage. It's also about Beane and Brand's new ideas going up against the purists of baseball.

Brad Pitt can add yet another great performance to his resume with his portrayal of Billy Beane, the A's GM. And Jonah Hill proves (to me anyways) that he is an actor capable of much more than raunchy comedies. I didn't once think about his previous characters from Superbad and Knocked Up when I watched him. Philip Seymour Hoffman adds instant class as A's manager Art Howe, as well.

The film is also completely devoid of sports clichés. It helps to know that it's all based on true events, I suppose. But you don't feel like you're watching a recycled film. I was captivated from beginning to end.

I suppose my one complaint would be the small amount of real-live baseball footage. Most of the baseball is old footage of the actual events, with the actors integrated in for close-ups. But the film is seen from Beane's perspective, and he doesn't like to watch the games.

Don't be surprised if it gets some Oscar nods. Possibly Best Adapted Screenplay (from the book), or maybe even Best Actor for Brad Pitt. See it now.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

The best of all the films

27 July 2011

Warning: Spoilers

Right off the bat, I'll tell you that if you haven't at least seen Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Part 1, you will be lost without all hope for the whole film AND this review. Don't kid yourself.

The movie starts exactly where Part 1 left off. Harry, Ron, and Hermione have buried the late Dobby, and Voldemort has obtained the Elder Wand from the cold, dead hands of Dumbledore. The three heroes then devise a plan with the aid of Griphook the goblin to break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault in Gringotts to find one of Voldemort's horcruxes. They get in quite easily, but have a bit of a problem with leaving.

I won't reveal anything else. If you could only call one of the 8 Potter films an "action" film, this would be the one. After the first third of the movie or so, it's essentially hell at Hogwarts. The place is torn apart by spells, important characters are killed off, and the pace rarely lets up. This is what everyone (including me) should have expected of the final entry. It ties together all loose ends, everyone's true character is revealed, and the climax is spectacular.

Any acting problems that there may have been at any point in the film series are extinguished. Everyone that has a part is perfect. Daniel Radcliffe shows more emotion than before while playing the series' hero. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Ron and Hermione show the characters' affection for each other seamlessly, as their characters have gone from a bickering duo, to a convincing couple. Ralph Fiennes again proves that he was the perfect choice for Voldemort, a purely evil character with absolutely no redeeming qualities... then polar opposite to Harry Potter. But, in my opinion, Matthew Lewis' portrayal of Neville Longbottom might just stand out above all others. His character finally gets his true moment in the sun, becoming a great hero, and it is clear that Lewis has matured with the character.

The plot, while as a movie standing on it's own is perhaps unspectacular, answers all questions that any non-readers may have been asking, and, like I said earlier, it's what was expected. And the epilogue is very satisfying, don't you worry.

Combine this film with Part 1, and you may have a film that is the most loyal to the book of all the films, so die-hard fans shouldn't have any serious complaints. I know I didn't.

So, does the movie deserve Oscar recognition? In the case of acting, I think that Daniel Radcliffe has earned at least a nomination. He makes you truly feel for the character, especially near the end. Unfortunately, nominating anyone else would shadow someone else's performance, and that wouldn't be fair. Radcliffe stands out. And I haven't seen Captain America yet, but I think that this film should definitely win Best Special Effects; everything is blended together so well. The spells, the castle, the dragon from Gringotts, Voldemorts face (it is not makeup, as many people know)... you don't even notice that it's all computer generated. And should it win Best Picture...? If it's even nominated, I doubt that it will win, but I suppose that stranger things have happened... just be sure to keep your eye on the Oscars next year...

My one complaint? The 3-D. Totally unnecessary, and actually a bit distracting at times. And I usually like 3-D...

Still, 10/10

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Skyline (2010)

2/10

90 minutes you will never get back

20 May 2011

If you don't want to here me complain, I'll sum up this "film" right now: maximum special fx, minimum substance.

Rarely do I heavily dislike any movie. I'm very good at lowering my expectations for films that I KNOW will be bad, and, therefore, I can enjoy just about any motion picture. But THIS. THIS is just garbage! The script must have been about 10 pages long. Honestly, I could have written it in grade 4 as a project for bonus marks... Dialogue never gets more dramatic than, "What was that?" or "Oh my god!" And it never gets more personal than "I'm not leaving without you." And that's when it's trying its hardest, ladies and gentlemen.

You are hardly given any time to get to know the main characters at the beginning; it's just small talk dialogue anyways, even when there aren't CGI aliens running around everywhere. My point being: you won't care what happens to them. The acting is lame. Eric Belfour, who I remember from 24 (he was pretty good on that show in his brief role), is as forgetful as the rest.

One thing I will give it credit for: the effects. Yes, effects don't make a film good, but they sure as hell can give it 1 or 2 stars out of ten can't they? Without them, this is a zero. No question.

The film's plot is hopelessly simple: aliens, breather, aliens, breather, explosions, aliens, breather, plot twist that sucks, end.

One of the worst films I have ever seen. Don't even rent it.

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Black Hawk Down (2001)

10/10

Gritty, Raw, and Powerful

14 February 2011

Black Hawk Down may be one of the greatest war movies ever made. Without glorifying anything, it shows the stress, adrenaline, terror and loss of warfare. Ridley Scott has earned a reputation for making great war films (especially medieval) so there are no surprises when excellence is found here.

As the viewer, you may not utter a single breath from beginning to end. But one thought may cross your mind: "I'm glad I wasn't there". That "there" is Somalia in 1993. A violent, starving city run by a corrupt government. Militia flood the streets. And I'll tell you this right now: few things are more terrifying than the devotion of these militants. They want the American troops out of their city, and they'll stop at nothing to get that message across.

All the actors are excellent. Josh Hartnett, Ewan MacGregor and Tom Sizemore earn great marks from me. The sound editing was also excellent, as every bullet ricochet and shell explosion pounds into your eardrums, allowing you to forget nothing.

Watch it. It will put images in your mind for a long time.

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The Other Guys (2010)

4/10

Disappointing

30 December 2010

I'll start off by saying that I am a fan of Will Ferrel's movies. I liked Elf, Stepbrothers, Anchorman, Talledega Nights and his SNL skits. But The Other Guys, in my opinion, was, simply put, a bad, unfunny film.

I really tried to like this movie. I tried to find the laugh-out-loud humour that I saw in Stepbros and Anchorman, but it simply wasn't there. Maybe I should watch it again (IN CASE I DO, CONSIDER THIS MY FIRST OPINION). The movie got off to a promising start, with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson making me laugh in every scene that they were in. And Ferrel's naive character along with Wahlberg's insecure character gave me high hopes. But, as the film progressed, it was painfully clear that they were always mere inches away from a great punchline, but you soon realized that they had already said the punchline, and the "funny" joke was finished. However, the acting was good; there were no poor performances. It's just that their dialogue was unfunny.

I'll sum it up like this: if you've seen the trailers, you've seen the funny parts. End of story.

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The Matrix (1999)

10/10

Simply Awesome

4 August 2010

Warning: Spoilers

What if your world wasn't real? You are actually plugged into a computer world that you think is real, and evil robots will soon use you as an energy source for themselves.

Just imagine waking up from a very long dream that felt like your life, only to realise that you were actually living in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are either still sleeping or fighting to wake others up. That is the world that Thomas Anderson (Neo) discovers. He is a thirty- something guy with a boring office job who works by day, and hacks computers by night. Then, he meets Morpheus, a mysterious man that seems to be on a mission... a mission that involves Neo. On top of all this, there's kung-fu, bullet dodgin' and ass-kickin'! The perfect action/sci-fi film.

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