Change Your Image
carthik_s
Reviews
Blood and Bone (2009)
Michael 'Gengis' Jai White
I am not going a great rating, because this could have been better. Don't expect high end acting, because there is just two names worth mentioning - Michael and Eamonn Walker. The other cast of full of MMA fighters. So, just expect fight. It is there. Eammonn is very good as James. The movie's plot has lot of holes. They could have devoted more time to the relationship between Danny and Bone, but they didn't and the reasoning doesn't seem personal.
Michael Jai must be cast in some big budget action movie... He's a next JCVD.
Make no mistake, this ain't undisputed 2. Undisputed 2 just felt right. But this ain't bad at all. Better than most action flicks. I would see this movie more many of the high end bull-crap movie these days.
Taken (2008)
even more than i expected
actually, this movie made me write a review after a long time. i had great expectation for this movie - from the feedbacks i received and IMDb comments. It didn't disappoint a bit.
Story is about a CIA agent finding his daughter, after he is kidnapped in Paris. Liam was tremendous. The movie blows by. 93 minutes went like 30 minutes. The movie is fast paced with little room for acting.
The undertone was very strong in this movie. Trafficking, and father-daughter relationship are the undertones, strong, yet very subtle.
Although the character build up is not much, you start to care for them worst thing abt the movie is acting. Expect Liam, everyone was horrible. but really, that doesn't matter for this movie. they do ample job.
I love Jason Bourne. But Bryan Mills kicks Jason Bourne ass. The movie delivers.
The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
Disappointed
This movie really lacks heart. The subject may be like that. But they could have made it better. It looks to me, that the directors were really confused. One time they wanted to make a movie that keeps faith in marriage (the pillow scene) and another time, they wanted the movie to like reality. I mean, this guy knows that divorce is going to sting his pockets big time, and they do show him to be a bit of miser in couple of scene and yet he keeps spending. The vulgarity in the movie is appalling. I don't know why people would say that the directors tried to recreate the touch of "There's something about Mary" in this movie, because both are completely different. I hope they didn't, if so they failed miserably. This movie is more like "Along came Polly" (well that was at least funny) Laughs are not heavy in this movie. It's more like a grin-type comedy. Ben Stiller is the only good part of the movie. I have never thought any of his movies were boring, until this. But, he did his part really good. His acting is really good, and in scenes, where he shows his surprise at other's comment, he does it in his Stiller's way. Without him, this movie would have been a disaster.
If you looking for a laugh out comedy, this is not movie for you. If you believe in marriage and love, this is not a movie for you. This is crude movie at its best (or should I say, at its worst).
It's an appalling remake of a good comedy movie. 4/10
16 Blocks (2006)
Pleasant surprise
I watched this movie without having anything useful to do/watch. I had a very low expectation for the movie. I was expecting another die hard kind-of movie. Although the story looks like the Die-hard, it is a different kind of movie. There is no super human stunt and stuff
and Bruce Willis character is completely different from the John McLean we know.
The story is about a drunken, burnt out cop, who gets a last minute job to escort a witness through 16 blocks. This cake walk kind of thing turns out very ugly.
I got to tell you
Mos Def was definitely good. David Morse is really a scary silent villain. The movie is for 101 minutes, but the time just flies. It's full of suspense and does not contain mind less action.
It's worth a watch. Great time pass.
5/10
Reign Over Me (2007)
Sandler has done a great job
The story is about Friendship and Love and the effect of 9/11. Adam Sandler is affected by the 9/11 attack and loses his zest for life. Don Cheadle, a successful dentist in New York, was his room mate in college. They have lost touch since. Cheadle knows nothing about Sandler's 9/11 tragedy. He just meets him one day on the road, and decides to help him.
Don Cheadle is good. He chooses his roles very carefully, I guess. Nothing great about his acting in this movie, but couldn't have been a better choice for the character.
Adam Sandler
apparently he can act
instead act very well
this is the best serious role Sandler has done and he had done a exceptional job. It is very difficult to break our image and do a different type of actor. But Sandler had broken open to show the glimpse of his acting potential. He just stands out in the movie.
It's a waste of Liv Tyler. They describe her in one scene and that's just it. God
she is beautiful. They could have used her a lot. May be instead of Saffron Burrows.
The movie drags a bit in the end. But I mean, come-on
it's after all a 128 minutes movie. But if you feel really irritated with your boring life, you can watch this. But it will not make you cry or anything.
Since it drags a bit, i give it a 5.
Junior (1994)
Very good movie
I am not sure why all the bad reviews by the critics. I liked the movie very much.
The story is about Arnie self-experimenting to prove his scientific breakthrough. He gets pregnant as a result, and the rest of the movie is about how he delivers his baby. I thought it would be really horrible to see Arnold act soft. But I gotta say
he nailed it. You can't call it the greatest performance, but it will really shatter all expectations from Arnie. He can act too.
Danny DeVito is hilarious. He is really a great selection. He has perfect chemistry with Arnie. Indeed a very credible performance from him.
Very good acting by all others too.
The story moves quiet well. It does not feel slack it any point. Kudos to the director. It is a fresh theme and well written movie.
Very good watch on a Sunday afternoon. You wont regret renting it.
The Painted Veil (2006)
A beautiful Period-Romance
Story line is simple
it's about a love relationship between a couple, and the issues they face when they expect some quality in their better half (which they don't possess). This is not like any other romantic movies
this is a beautiful study of human nature
although you would think that this movie will be very slow (you might get that impression from the movie synopsis), but the movie is very compelling and will not slag a bit.
I initially did not like the climax, but the ending like that needs a climax like that. Its not rosy climax
but it is the best fit for this movie
The movie has a beautiful cinematography. The locations are pretty good but the cinematography makes it more likable. I heard somewhere that the actual movie was shot in china. Very nice locations indeed.
In short
very watchable movie with some good acting performance and great direction. Kudos to the whole team.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Are you kidding me?
This is a damn good movie. Not a great movie, but a real good movie. I watched this after reading all the negative comments stating that it's no where as good as the book. But common
give me a break
name one movie other than LOTR which is as good as the book. The book handles the story in a different way. So what? The matter at hands is quite sensitive. Books do not reach many people but movie will. And so the director was real careful in designing the characters.
The story line is real powerful. Although there are many loop-holes, the movie keeps you guessing till the end.
Ben Affleck is no Jack Ryan. He is boringly cute and does not demand the respect or attention as that of Harrison Ford. May be Matt Damon would have been a better choice for the role. Morgan freeman was wasted. Bridget is hot. Ciaran Hinds is a perfect fit for the role. His presence is ominous. The dialogues are quite well written. The phrase when the Nazi guy describes Hitler is quite fascinating and amazing true.
I like the ending discussion between Jack Ryan and KGB guy is fascinating and hope there will be more.
Leave the negative comments. If you see the movie first, before reading the book, you will enjoy it. (6/10)
Firewall (2006)
Not enough Fire
There is no real fire in the movie. The movie does move but everything is predictable. The movie is about a bank's network security designer and lead how his life is affect when some people hold his family and force him to steal the bank. Although the concept is new, we have seen many movies like that. The movie has a typical Ford's touch though.
Virginia Madsen is quite a hot mom. She is real sexy actress who can act very well. I started liking her acting from the movie 'sideways'. Quite a talent. The kids have done a decent job. The movie is carried by Ford and Bettany two really good actors. For Harrison Ford, this movie is a piece of cake. He has done so many movies like this, and he can do this role when he is asleep. But still it had to done properly, and he delivers again. Paul Bettany is a extremely talented artist. He can be comical, scary, and a psycho whenever we want. He prowls the entire movie like a mega star.
I can not believe villains will be this nice. I can not believe somebody so meticulous like Bill Cox would have only four men in the team. The movie's story is unreal and situations are imaginary but the movie is all about Ford. If you like Ford, you will like the movie. I wish Virginia had a bigger role in the movie. She was really wasted. (5/10)
Premonition (2007)
No great shakes
The starting promises a lot, but as the movie rolls, it fails to produce the desired effort. Mind you, this is not a bad movie. But the concept is not something new. It's already tried and tested. Also, the movie looks like they wanted to tell the story in a rush within 90 minutes. Movies like these needs to have three parts:- A starting - which should produce an eerie effect. Then the audience will be interested. A middle part the actual story which should focus on the main character alone. This will help the audience to expect a climax in favor of the main character. Then comes the climax the twist the final taste which will last long in the minds of the audiences. Then they will talk about the climax and the movie and then you have a hit movie. Sadly, this movie has a good start and a decent ending. But an ordinary middle part, which makes it a usual movie.
The acting is OK in this. No biggie from Sandra bullock or Julian McMahon. The music does not have a great impact on the movie. This is also a failure. The kids are really cute and have acted well.
Watchable, if you are not expecting a great thriller. (4.5/10)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Little Miss Enjoyable.
The movie was a mild surprise to me. I have heard the movie was good and read the ravishing reviews, but I never thought that it would be a mature movie. This is not a movie to watch in theater, so I waited for the DVD and watched it
There is a family, who can be termed as 'losers'. The story is about their trip in pursuit of a 'Little Miss Sunshine' Crown for the kid girl. Father is a loser, Son is a loner, Grandpa is a stoner and Uncle is suicidal. It doesn't look greener and does not get any greener.
The script is smoothly written and the movie has a flow. Although a drama genre, you will never feel bored during the movie. Humor has been inserted in appropriate places. Acting is real good. Each and every artist has out done others. I love the start of the movie.
This is a dark comedy, but leaves a good impression. It has a lot of family values, like father being there for the loser son, brother for sister, mother for the family, and everyone for the kid sister. Must watch movie. (6/10)
Employee of the Month (2006)
No great shakes
The movie is about competition between two guys for the employee of the month. Plus to sleep with Jessica Simpson.
Jessica Simpson is a horrible actress. She looks blank; she does not show any expression at all. She's just in the movie for her cleavage show, but it is not worth it.
Dax Shepard is real good and brings up a few laughs with Efren Ramirez. Apart from them, there is not much to laugh. Humor is just so blank. Dane somehow looks lost and frustrated and does not look like a part of the movie.
There is not much spend on the movie, expect probably renting a Costco.
The story might have been interesting if Dane tried to win the Employee of the month in his own 'box boy' way. And probably losing it narrowly to Dax, after he realizes what are important to him. Also, there is not much scene to show that he is close with his three friends and so it does not make sense when he feels terrible, at their anger. Poor story writing in this part.
This movie tried to a feel good movie, but fails miserably. You will feel empty at the end of this movie, but won't regret watching it. (4/10)
Before Sunrise (1995)
hmmm... So...... Love is Beautiful
Great movie
The story of the movie is simple. A guy meets a girl and spends a day with her and they fall in love. Simple enough. But the real beauty of the movie is how interested this movie keeps you all along. It is like watching a reality TV. The viewers will be spell bound and hope that the night never ends for these lovers.
To have such a normal subject, and yet move the story so interestingly is a skill. Kudos to the director for this. There is no great acting performance as such, but none were required. The characters doesn't seem like a fiction, but like a reality.
If you have ever been in love, this movie will rekindle those days of love. Real gem of a romantic movie.
The movie leaves a lot to expect for in its sequel.
Reno 911!: Miami (2007)
Are you kidding me?
Don't watch it; if you have an ounce of interest for a good movie, then don't watch it
The whole movie is a crap and I have no idea about the review stating that this is 'surprisingly' good movie
Now
I am not complaining about the crude jokes or acting. I am not complaining about the non-sensual comedy. But it is about the direction. Each scene may have been funny as single separate joke. But as a movie, the whole thing was disjoint. The movie does not move well and I slept twice in between the movie before completing it.
As with these movies, there is not much acting. The jokes were not hilarious and will not cause any stomach-ache. There is pleasant surprise in the movie when a famous character appears for a brief moment. I was seriously hoping that he stays longer, but
..
Absolute stupidity story and direction
Man of the Year (2006)
hmm...
Yet another movie let down by its marketing. I was mildly surprised when I went to the theatre. 'Man of the year' is not an out right hilarious movie but will demand some laughs from the viewers. Robin Williams is ideal for this role, and does a great job as president-elect candidate. It gives a reason to think about the current state of politics, with funny 'political' jokes. Of course, the core idea of the movie is far-fetched, but it leaves the question What if something like this happens in the future? The scenes involving Robin Williams and crowds are hilarious. Credit need to be given to the dialogue writer for this movie the selection of phrases was imperious.
This is not a great movie by any measures. But this movie definitely has a heart. Watchable (6/10)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Great graphics...poor movie
So much of hype around this release... it left a lot of unfulfilled expectations...
this series is no longer about jack sparrow being a charismatic guy... he has become a full time comedian with no stress on his courage or valor. The movie looks lost for direction with too many intermingled plots. Due to lack of jack, the slack is very evident. Nobody took on themselves to make the story moving.
The final piece of problem is there are too many stars in the movie and movie was struggling to justify any solid role for them.
The special effects deserve a mention. The special effects are great and worth every penny. The final fight sequence leaves you wondering why the movies did not contain any such segment prior. For all the money paid, the last fight scene is worth two.