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h_a_taylor
Reviews
OJ Simpson: Monster or Myth? (2010)
Worth watching, but...
This movie is definitely worth watching, but has its flaws. We see interviews with members of OJ's defense team and Marcia Clark. We also see discussions of media bias, racial issues, and a lot of other social factors that influenced Americans' reactions to the verdict. There's also a lot of OJ driving around in his Mercedes feeling sorry for himself.
What there isn't is much presentation or analysis of the actual evidence in the case. This oversight is particularly ironic, given that the documentary repeatedly accuses America of not focusing enough on the evidence in the case in thinking he was guilty. I don't think OJ needs to prove his innocence, but most people watching this movie haven't thought about the case in years and, like me, probably don't remember much other than the glove.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Just... Another Will Ferrell Movie.
I just got back from this movie. And it was... okay. Some of it was funny. Some of it wasn't. Some of it was clever. Some of it was predictable. In other words, if you're planning to see this movie, you already probably qualify as a Ferrell Fan, or something like that. Which means you'll think it's pretty funny. Not grade-A, top-quality, Steve Martin funny. More like a lot of "hurting for laughs," slapstick humor kind of funny. And as with most Will Ferrell movies, it's awkward at first, but will probably get better with each successive watching. So go ahead, see it. Or not. Because it will be on DVD eventually, and besides, all your friends will quote it months and months from now.
All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
Sweet and memorable.
When I was a little girl (and my dad owned a video store), this was among my favorite movies. I hadn't heard much about it since then, nor did I really remember anything about it, it having been forgotten in the wake of Don Bluth's other, probably better films. I managed to track it down a few weeks ago, however, and was pleasantly surprised again. Set in New Orleans in the 1930s, the animation is delightful and the songs are memorable. There are a few goofs in continuity if you look hard enough, but they generally don't detract from the storyline, which leaves you smiling (and maybe even a little misty-eyed, if you are a lover of animals). The characters are believable (maybe even a little too grown-up for younger watchers), as well. Two paws up, and for those of you who haven't seen it in a while, definitely worth a re-watch.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
That's what I like to see...
Slow, slow, slow. The only reason this movie got an Oscar is because Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman are in it. And because it is about someone with the "heart of a champion." Some champion. If anyone made a movie that: glorified the mercy killing of American slaves before the Civil War rather than live a life of slavery, glorified the mercy killing of women who are abused and would be living a horrible life anyway, or glorified the mercy killing of someone who was blind and couldn't see anything anyway, they would be publicly scorned for the implication that these people lead lives that have less value than those of others. However, the media and critics everywhere have latched onto this movie and raved. Thank God for Clint Eastwood, otherwise, our "champion" might have gone through life disabled. Which is, apparently, now in the eyes of Hollywood, a fate worse than death. An insult to every disabled person in the United States and an unbearably destructive twist to an otherwise inspiring movie.
Resident Evil (2002)
Excellent premise....
...for a video game! I joined IMDb for the sole purpose of writing a review for this movie. I don't even care if anyone reads it, I just absolutely had to vent. I watched this movie with average expectations, knowing and having heard little about the film. Let me be the first to say that this movie should never, ever have been made. And then they should never, ever have made a sequel (but that's a story for another day). I won't give anything away here, because there's pretty much nothing to say about the movie that hasn't already been covered in the summary... in a way that makes way more sense, I promise. Meanwhile, this movie is just like the video game. Literally. I felt like I was playing a first-person shooter the whole time. The kind with a lot of unnecessary segues and animation, but no real action. But without the fun of doing it myself. (More accurately, I guess I felt like I was watching someone else play a first-person shooter.) The concept of the plot itself is just really, really dumb. Usually you can make up for something like that with good action or awesome fight scenes. Not so here. The action felt forced and was extremely predictable. Loud sound effects and a soundtrack with lots of power chords never make up for a lack of substance, and didn't here. Milla Jovovich's talent is completely wasted in this film. She's too good to be doing stuff like this. Really. And regarding Michelle Rodriguez... well, I've seen better acting skills in my 14-year-old sister's school plays. She has only two facial expressions: angry, and really angry. I only gave this movie a 3 out of 10 because I've seen The Hulk.