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Reviews
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Near Perfect On Every Level - Great Film!
This film delivers a lot of action, an intriguing plot, a tantalizing and beautiful love interest, many humorous moments, powerful messages about internal fortitude and courage, a classic villain, superb acting and many of the basic essentials of any good action movie. Including, incredible stunts, unbelievable feats and, not to be vulgar, but a climax that plays out like a multiple orgasm. The finish features one wave after another of edge of your seat moments. A good summer movie season just got better and I'm not exaggerating one bit. I've read comparisons to Raiders of the Lost Ark and that says it all right there.
I'd have to rate Captain America as Great/Fantastic, one of the best comic book movies ever made. It is as close to a perfect adventure movie as you can get. Superman has generally held the title as most fondly remembered or nostalgic superhero film. Spider-Man has generally held the title as most beloved superhero film because of the character. TDK has generally held the title as most technically sound and highly rated superhero film. Iron Man has generally held the title as best all-around superhero film. Well, Captain America can compete with them all in every category. It is IMO near perfect on every level. It's tight, lean, well acted, fun and superbly done.
Speed Racer (2008)
Dumb One-Note Anime Eye Candy Meets the Teletubbies
It becomes more and more clear that the Wachowski brothers got lucky the first time around. The Matrix was a quality flick. The two follow ups were quite awful. That's where Speed Racer falls. SR is a terrible movie; dumb anime eye candy meets the teletubbies. If anyone over eight years old says they like this movie, they should seek therapy immediately. If you're eight and under, go for it. It gets more then a bit silly at times, especially when Speed's little brother Spritle and his monkey companion Chim-Chim are involved. I knew I was in trouble when I had trouble sitting through the monkey musical montage during the credits.
I was BORED TO TEARS watching this thing despite all the loud stupidity and color flashes. The entire movie felt like the equivalent of The Architect's speech from Matrix Reloaded. I'm not saying it's an all dialogue movie. What I am saying is that it's a one note monotone waste of time. I left seriously let down, as did some of the people I heard complaining while we were leaving. For my screening, I sat down in the front, slunk all the way back in my chair and got ready to watch the movie. Only one scene in the whole movie made me sit up at all. The trailers exactly capture and declare the thrust of the film. It is designed to appeal to an audience with A.D.D. - those who constantly need something new and loud every few seconds to capture their attention. Loud and colorful doesn't mean entertaining or even interesting. What a horrible and a colossal waste.
Ultimate Avengers (2006)
OUTSTANDING ... The Best Ever !?!
I just read a review that declares Ultimate Avengers the "Best Animated Superhero Movie of All-Time!" I'll go one better. It's the best animated action movie of all-time, beating big boys like Titan AE, Transformers and The Iron Giant. Most sane people agree that it certainly beats any single episode of Justice League, X-Men Evolution, Batman or Spider-Man. Some want to compare it to these TV series and their entire run but that's apples and oranges. If Ultimate Avengers spins off in to a series, then there can be discussion.
As it stands now, Marvel's first animation effort set the bar quite high, not only for its future endeavors but for other companies and other studios. Ultimate Avengers proves that animated features don't have to talk down to a presumably child audience. You can set up characters and develop a story just like a live action film. The bonus being that once it's time for action, animation offers no limits. Ultimate Avengers proved this in spades. The alien battle and Hulk brawl were intense and spectacular. Setting them up, though, was what elevates this film past the other movies mentioned above. Marvel's live action movie experience bringing the likes of Spider-Man, X-Men and even Daredevil to the screen must have given them the edge. They've brought a remarkable animated world to life with Ultimate Avengers.
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
Most of this movie will keep you thinking, "This is not what I wanted to see."
You expect it to be juvenile but you at least expect a complete and coherent movie. What a waste. I am extremely disappointed, not at just having watched a bad movie, but at having such a great concept be tainted by a common movie that we've all seen before. If this crud makes $1 over its budget, The studio would be wise to declare victory, round up all available copies, store them deep within the nuclear waste repository under Yucca Mountain, and then never make another movie like it again. Most of this movie will keep you thinking, "This is not what I wanted to see." This film appeals to the unintelligent and maybe to teenagers. It's a true shame because most movies are made for that demographic. I had much higher hopes for this film.