Reviews

I'll admit that my expectations for this were not terribly high going in. I'm both a film nerd, and a dog lover, which means that I see pretty much any movie i can, and I have a soft spot for adorable dogs. I figured it would be cute, but not that good. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This movie is a clever and funny family film that I think most people will be happy to take their kids to. For the parents, there are many moments of sophisticated humor that is still appropriate for the kids. There is not an excess of bathroom humor, and the one moment that could be classified as such is still pretty down played. Mostly, this is a fun cartoony movie that provides enjoyable escapism, but still has some good lessons to teach. In one of the best scenes in the film, Underdog gives a speech that sticks it to people who abuse their animals. In light of some recent high profile animal abuse cases, it is a well timed statement.

Jason Lee's voice over is spot on, and provides a humorous and enjoyable twist on the characteristics that we associate with dogs. Peter Dinklage is also good as the mad scientist.

Overall, this is a children's movie you wont regret seeing.

I'll start off by saying that I love this movie. I'm sure there will be a huge critical backlash against it, which is too bad, because it is the sort of movie that is very rare these days. I Know Who Killed me is a cult/camp classic in the making, and will hopefully be recognized as such. I saw this movie last night in San Francisco. Everyone in the audience seemed to be having a good time, but when we were leaving the theater I overheard lots of people saying things like "I was laughing the whole time. It was so bad!" Honestly, I'm pretty baffled as to what these people expect when they go see a movie like this and have that reaction. From all the publicity I saw for this movie, I can't see how anyone could justify thinking that it was going to be some sort of high art psychological thriller in the vein of the Shining, or Vertigo. I was sort of afraid that it would be another one of those mediocre thrillers that take themselves too seriously (Murder By Numbers, Premonition), but instead I was delighted. The movie has a real sense of humor about itself and does not disappoint when it comes to absurd twists and turns and moments of glorious camp. Fans of Grindhouse,Evil Dead, and of Rob Zombie's movies will probably be won over by this movie. Miss Lohan should be proud of herself for her work in this. Despite her recent legal troubles, her role in this film gives me hope that she could have a fruitful career ahead of her if she plays her cards right. The first part of the movie, in which Miss Lohan plays over achiever Aubrey Fleming, is probably the weakest section. It has some entertaining parts (like the strip tease from the creepy gardener character), but overall, it is hard to think of Lindsay Lohan as a straight A student from small town America. However, the movie, as well as Miss Lohan's performance takes a strong turn for the best when she transforms into Dakota Moss, the sassy stripper with a troubled past. Even though the days of Mean Girls have long past, we are reminded that Miss Lohan has great comedic timing, and a strong screen presence. The character of Dakota has a very appealing bluntness, and Miss Lohan is perfect at portraying this. She and Rose McGowan are certainly in close competition for the title of Cult Cinema's Queen, but unlike Ms McGowan Ms Lohan is truly a talented actress. I hope to see her in more movies like this. Although I don't want to spoil the ending, I will say that the final scenes, after we know who the killer is, are downright hilarious. Also, this movie has one of the best final shots I've seen in a long time. If you're a fan of camp, ridiculous gore, general absurdity, and sick of generic Hollywood thrillers with no sense of humor, then I know Who Killed me will be a real treat for you.

Like most people, I went to see Happy Feet for the cuteness factor. Not only were my demands met in that regard, but I was surprised to find a high quality film, that I think will become an animated classic alongside the likes of The Lion King, Bambi, and Snow White. The Bambi comparison is the most important one here. The film, as it turns out, has a strong environmental message, which makes it much more than a cute cuddle-fest. Like Bambi, it raises awareness about the negative impact that humans can have on wildlife. In both films, the main characters must live through some extremely perilous situations, in which humans are mainly to blame. Perhaps Happy feet will inspire a new generation of environmentalists? If the environmental theme doesn't entice you, see it for the gorgeous computer animation (probably the best i've seen in a mainstream film), the wonderful characters, and the awesome music (an original song by prince!)

Also, Happy Feet doesn't make you gay, contrary to what some (crazy) people have said.