Entourage: Season 1 (2004)
Fun and mildly entertaining, but it’s almost like each show tries really hard to be your best friend. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not. The stars have nice chemistry with each other. Piven is wonderful.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
The fantastic effects do not make up for the confusing and drawn-out story. About three times longer than it needed to be.
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Cinderella Man (2005)
Pretty good. The period and fight sequences are pretty authentic. But it’s a bit slow.
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The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Pretty complicated plot. Even though a lot of it must have been cut out from the book to make the movie, it still seemed a bit slow. Indiana Jones for intellectuals. Good performances by all, especially Bettany.
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The Rookie (2002)
A bit slow at the start. A subplot would have been helped. Everything is geared toward Morris making the majors, and it would have been nice if there was something else to keep us interested. His arrival in the majors was touching, I have to admit. A shot of the…
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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
Great performances. Everyone is extremely comfortable in their roles, and their comraderie is genuine. Pearce is in incredible shape. I don’t think Brad Pitt ever looked this good. Weaving have come a long way. And Stamp is simply amazing, maybe even Oscar-worthy. Unfortunately, it’s not funny. The compedy that doesn’t…
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Elizabethtown (2005)
Unfunny, undramatic, and amateurish. Surprisingly lame for Crowe. Like Garden State, it’s almost like they read the “How to Make a Cool Movie” book and mixed up “down-to-earth” actors with “witty” and “deep” dialogue when, in fact, the characters and dialogue were anything but. We can’t hear the most important…
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When It Was a Game (1991)
The color footage, especially of the old-timers, is amazing. An improvement over Ken Burns’ Baseball documentary. Not breaking up the footage with studio-lit shots of old people’s faces allows for a smoother flow, and the melancholic theme music really gives it a unique personality.
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The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Traveling DOES change you. A good exploration of Guevera’s character. Great casting and acting. Beautifully shot, but the pace is perhaps a bit too leisurely.
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Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
A Vietnam vet breaking down. We’re supposed to enjoy this? The character is confused and aimless, so it’s hard to sympathize with him. And not showing his speech at the end was lame. But despite these character shortcomings, Cruise does a pretty good job. Stone once again does a good…
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Just Friends (2005)
OK. Reynolds thinks he’s a bit funnier than he is. If he’d tone it down a bit, he’d have something. Faris has a hint of talent.
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Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Touching story, nicely shot, moving score, and the girls are adorable. But it’s too simple. The story focuses on the three girls, and not enough happens to them. Nice of Branagh to take bottom billing.
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Thank You for Smoking (2005)
All right. A few gags are funny (the orca and seals, for example), but a few others are not. Eckhart is good as Naylor, but what is his struggle? It’s hard to tell an engaging story without one.
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Pay It Forward (2000)
Interesting idea. Didn’t think there was enough of a story, but I was touched at the end, so I guess there was. Great cast. Hunt delivers a fantastic performance.
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Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Pretty good story and writing. Everything’s tied up nicely, and some of the camaraderie of the original is preserved. Actually, a pretty good franchise. Gibson is likeable but his tics are a bit much. Kensit’s hot.
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The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Like most films of this period, most shots are static, very deliberately framed, and hesitate for a moment too long, giving the film a desolate, sterile feeling. It worked for Planet of the Apes, but not much else. Effects, as expected, are a bit cheesy. The characters are stale, everyopne…
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Batman (1989)
OK, but not as good as it should have been. Dark and moody, but Burton’s a bit of a disappointment. The script isn’t too smart, the characters aren’t too interesting, and some of the photography/editing looks a bit sloppy. Keaton isn’t the best choice for Batman. Everyone is too old…
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Constantine (2005)
Effects are nice, but the story’s kinda blah. Keanu plays the chosen one again.
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Terms of Endearment (1983)
One of the most depressing and touching movies I have seen in a while. Indiscriminately tugs at your heartstrings like a few other movies in the 80’s, like Beaches. Fabulous cast. McLain is solid. Winger is fun, endearing, and charismatic. The demise of her character is part of what makes…
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Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Lee draws things out a bit too much. It’s an interesting story, but it’s long and slow. Not a lot happens. Gyllenhaal’s got it. And Ledger actually can act, even if he does sound a bit like Karl from Sling Blade. Great aging make-up on the guys. Beautiful landscape photography.
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100 Mile Rule (2002)
Reminded me of “Very Bad Things” (I think the characters even refer to that film in the movie), only it’s a bit sloppy and not quite as dark. Acting is pretty good all around.
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Raw Deal (1986)
Sloppy and awkward, it’s a cheap vehicle for Arnie. Arnie’s got a few lines, but not enough to hold the lame story. It sure could have used another name actor.
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Wild Safari 3D (2005)
One of the less interesting IMAX movies I’ve seen. Not much of a story. Even documentaries are supposed to have stories, or points. The footage is OK, but the 3D effects made my eyes hurt. Some of the effects forced us to focus so closely that it made my eyes…
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50 First Dates (2004)
Sandler and Barrymore are decent. Schneider makes my skin curl. Catchy music.
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I, Robot (2004)
Story makes you think a bit, and the effects are actually pretty good. Overall, a lot better than I thought it was going to be, particularly because Will Smith is in it.
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Another 48 Hrs. (1990)
Pretty good. I think Nolte and Murphy managed to preserve some of their chemistry from the original. At this time, I think Murphy was on cruise control. He was floating on the success of his 80’s movies, and people were still wondering if they should like him. He’s still likeable…
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Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Lots of familiar faces. Stiller’s comedy is good, but the rest of the slapstick humor is just silly.
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Secret Window (2004)
Simple and well-told, acting is pretty good, beautifully shot. All in all, pretty solid. Another in a long line of “is it me or the world around me that’s fucked” paranoia thrillers.
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Sneakers (1992)
Cool stuff. Pretty funny! Good writing. Redford’s pretty good at comedy. He should do it more. The earpiece conversation was hilarious. The whole role was actually a bit Chevy-like.
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Grizzly Man (2005)
Here’s a guy who wanted to be as poetic, righteous, and rugged as the Crocodile Hunter (actually, more like Austin Stevens). Instead, he comes across as a guy with some serious issues. He‚Äôs lonely, a bit of a loser, and above all, grossly disillusioned. A social outcast, he has embraced…
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Cocoon (1985)
Touching, but the execution of the story is a bit off in certain scenes. A cross between Grumpy Old Men and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Strange how the aliens of all of the 80’s movies look the same. Effects are pretty good. Acting by the old guys, especially…
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Predator (1987)
Decent story, great cast. Weathers and Ventura are nice complements to Arnold. It’s too bad they don’t last very long. Effects are pretty good for the most part.
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Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Disturbing. Amazing how dreamy Aronofsky manages to make things feel, ending with one of the most powerful collision montages I’ve ever seen. Exceptionally edited, and great camerawork. Great cast and wonderful acting.
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Croupier (1998)
Interesting story, interesting character. The fact that the story and characters are engaging despite the lack of a soundtrack says a lot. Owen is young and a bit dorky, but he carries the film on pure charisma. He’s a pretty cool guy, but the third person gets a bit annoying.…
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The Shape of Things (2003)
The dialogue is very scripted. If you close your eyes, it sounds like a run-through of the script itself. And that really prevents us from believing the characters are genuine. It becomes very obvious that we’re watching a movie. The premise is interesting, but it might have been more effective…
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Beetlejuice (1988)
A take on the afterlife in the spirit of The Others and The Sixth Sense. Interestingly Burton-ish, but kinda dumb. I think the ensuing cartoon was actually better. Probably one of the last movies with “seamful” stop-motion.
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Brewster’s Millions (1985)
The early 80’s really was a tough time for movies, especially comedies. We lost our sense of humor for a few years there. Silly premise, and not very funny. One of the many rags-to-riches stories that were so common in the early 80’s, most of them featuring a wise-cracking, street-smart…
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Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Lots of pretty good action, and lots and lots of blood, but I still found myself bored. Beckinsale’s a cute chick, and she pulls off the female action star thing pretty well. She should have been Lara Croft, not Angelina Jolie.
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Amadeus (1984)
A very literal adaptation of theater. Milos has always been literal and plain. He’s almost like an older version of Ron Howard. The scene where he “improves” Salieri’s own composition is a good representation of Mozart’s genius. Although he’s a good pianist, Hulce is borderline annoying. I might have preferred…
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Dead Calm (1989)
A good, classically made thriller. Great location, believable acting, pretty good suspense. A score is almost completely absent, which is great. Loved the ending. Why was he being questioned by the police in the beginning? And I’m not sure what the kid/car accident thing has to do with it. Why…
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The Family Stone (2005)
Lots of script problems. The story awkwardly bounces between comedy and drama and tragedy. How are we supposed to feel? Unlikely relationships between characters aren’t flushed out, they just happen. Mom’s illness is handled sloppily. And references to things we haven’t seen indicate that the film may have been cut…
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Road to Perdition (2002)
An engaging, beautifully shot film. The story sucks you in, the sets are elaborate and believable, the photography is silky smooth. Hanks and the kid are exceptional. Newman is still vibrant at 77.
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Sin City (2005)
The loosely connected stories are off-beat, comical, and horrific. Strange anachronisms, from cell phones to vintage cars to sports cars, make things extra weird. The whole thing is like a nightmare, actually. Frightening. Extremely violent, lots of beatings and torture. Fringy characters try to outdo each other with annoyingly poetic…
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Alien (1979)
Interesting departure from the recently released Star Wars in that it’s dark and moody and dramatic and real. Well, more real than Star Wars. An interesting critical analysis could come out of comparing the space movies of the time, Star Wars, Alien, Close Encounters, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Action is…
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Baseball (1994–2010)
A documentary that takes a very leisurely pace through baseball history, almost at the pace of a real baseball game, which is to say, it’s too slow. The camera hesitates on each photo for just a moment too long (with this many photos, it adds up), and the voiceover is…
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The Delta Force (1986)
The hijacking scene is interesting to watch post 9/11. I’d love to see something like this in a Hollywood movie nowadays. Great cast. Marvin in a good, although small, farewell performance. Forster is magical. And thankfully, we don’t have to see Norris very much.
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Death Wish (1974)
Charles Bronson is one of the ugliest, least interesting leading men in history. I guess standards were a bit different back then. In a way, it feels like movies were in their adolescence in the late 70’s. Remnants of 50’s camerawork, acting, and dialogue stuill remain, but filmmakers were starting…
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The Girl Next Door (2004)
Pretty funny! A surprisingly good high school comedy. The situations aren’t realitically played out at times, but it works. I sure could have used a neighbor like that! Cuthbert is hot, Olyphant is great, Hirsch is genuine and appealing.
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Munich (2005)
OK, but it didn’t draw me in, which made it a bit long. Bana wasn’t much of a hero, so that didn’t help. Most of the other characters are interesting and well-acted. The desaturation of the film stock made things feel more authentic. The shot at the end showing the…
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Ice Age (2002)
The dialogue and animation is not as smart as a Pixar production. Everything is a bit too smooth and bouncy.
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Blue Planet (1990)
One of the best IMAX films I’ve seen. The photography is beautiful, and the discussion is interesting and informative.
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King Kong (2005)
Long, but good enough to keep my interest. I was a bit disappointed that it took about an hour to finally meet Kong, but it picks up. With the exception of a few character changes (all for the better), it’s pretty faithful to the original. A few old plot questions…
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Mission to Mir (1997)
Not bad. A pretty good shuttle launch. Launches seem to be perfect for IMAX.
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Genesis (1978)
One of the first IMAX films. Overdramatic and inarticulate voiceover, unimpressive animation, and lots of plane shadows. Filmmaking technology and audience expectations have since grown.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
A magical cross between The Wizard of Oz, Lion King, and Dungeons and Dragons. I don’t normally enjoy fantasy movies, but this might be one of the best fantasies I have ever seen. Not sure exactly what made this one different, but perhaps Ebert might have been able to pin…
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Destiny in Space (1994)
One of the better IMAX space movies. Lots of gorgeous footage, including a pretty good shuttle launch. Nimoy’s voice adds the right kind of mystique.
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9/11 (2002)
These guys were just at the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time. They are the modern day Zapruders. A bit shaky and nauseating to watch, but I guess the footage is good under the circumstances. Some moments of magic, but the whole thing is way too…
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Finding Nemo (2003)
The guys at Pixar really know what they’re doing… Good story, great characters, and perfect animation.
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Hail Columbia! (1982)
An OK, superficial look at the early shuttle program. Being one ofthe earlier IMAX films, the music is dated, and most of the photography is unimpressively small, presumably because IMAX-quality footage was not available. Tricks to make the visuals more impressive (frame-splitting and montages) don’t really work. The first launch,…
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Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Faithful to the novel, maybe, but not terribly fun to watch. While the development of his character with the apes is there, we hardly see any of his adjustment to western life. That would have been the most interesting aspect of his character and the most engaging part of the…
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
Better than I thought it would be. Pitt and Jolie don’t compete too much as stars. They actually seem to bounce off each other pretty well. Pretty good action, too. Would have worked well as a sequel to True Lies.
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Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Thought it would better than Anaconda, but it really wasn’t. Cheesy, low-brow action. Anyone who has seen the Jaws movies will be offended. There’s a fine line between homage and rip-off. Thomas Jane is pretty cool but he can’t carry a movie. There’s just not enough to him.
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Sahara (2005)
Very polished, but the story’s not really engaging. Lots of fun music. McConaughey’s the second coming of Errol Flynn. He’s got the look, but if he would just be a bit more unassuming (like Indy), he could be a really fun hero instead of a jack-ass. Zahn is always great.
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King Kong (1933)
The mix of live action, stop-motion animation, and puppetry is far from perfect, but the action is pretty good, especially considering when it was made. Kong displays some pretty cool moves in some pretty gory fights. But why would plant-eating dinosaurs attack people? Predictably stale performances from the men. They…
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Bottle Rocket (1996)
Anderson’s first movie is a good one. Although not polished, his distinctive light, off-beat style is apparent. He doesn’t just stop to recognize the awkward moments, he manufactures them. Not a great performance for the Wilson brothers, but a good debut. I’m glad they had the chance (mostly thanks to…
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Crash (2004)
Ethereal music mixed with smooth, polished photography, set to multiple storylines that bounce around between several different characters. The same formula as Traffic. Solid performances. Dillon and Bullock Fraser wasn’t as annoying as he usually is. Danza was a surprise. Ludacris hangs in there, barely. An interesting snapshot of LA.…
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Walk the Line (2005)
Pretty solid acting and vocal performances by Phoenix and Witherspoon, and a great supporting job by Patrick. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t really stand up. Cash is portrayed as a tormented young man with pretty serious drug problems who takes his issues out on other people. We are never given a…
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The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Magical and dark. Some of the cute, little characters actually die. Refreshing. It appealed more as a kid, but it’s still pretty good. Animation’s pretty good. Holds up pretty well. It’s hard to tell that this movie was actually made in 1982.
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Batman Begins (2005)
For a while, superhero films were shit. Superman was good, but then nothing until the late 90’s. And then X-Men, Spider-Man, and this. I guess the golden age of superhero movies had to wait for effects to catch up to the imaginations of comic book readers who are now breaking…
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The Untouchables (1987)
One of De Palma’s good ones. Some classic scenes. With the in-depth subject matter and interesting characters, I actually feel like the movie could have been longer. We only see fleeting glimpses of Capone. Good cast, with pretty good characters and performances all-around. Made back when Costner was cool. Nice…
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The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
More psychotic than talented. It’s hard to root for him. But we’re treated to beautiful shots of scenic Italy throughout. Great music. Law and Blanchett pull off American accents pretty well, but their dialogue and demeanor seems flat and unsophisticated. Was this intentional? Is this how people really were in…
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Ray (2004)
Foxx is good. His speech, mannerisms, and performances are all spot on. Not bad. Some of the plot points feel a bit rushed and forced. But the bigger problem is that the story doesn’t seem personal enough. Part of the problem, I think, is that Charles never really seems happy.…
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Love Actually (2003)
An exploration of love in all its forms. Ingeniously interwoven storylines, wonderful dialogue, great comedic timing, and inspirational music make a romantic holiday movie that’s almost perfect. Fantastic cast and acting all around. I can’t believe the actors they assembled for this one, and how each one, famous or not,…
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The Transporter (2002)
Inspired by Clive Owen’s BMW “Driver” series? Not a bad action movie. The music and car action keep it moving nicely. Statham, despite his angular, sometimes robotic movements, is actually pretty good as an action star.
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Assassins (1995)
A few plot hiccups. Banderas is good, but he makes so many stupid faces and grunts. Is that a Spanish thing? Moore looks very average, almost sickly in this one.
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The Usual Suspects (1995)
Good modern noir. Nice twist at the end. Spacey, an unknown at the time, works the role well, although some of his dialogue is a bit rushed. Del Toro and the others make an interesting mix of actors and characters. May have been better with an established star as one…
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Clueless (1995)
Stuffed with every beverly Hills cliche there is. A few good lines in there from Dad. Silverstone was a cutie. Her lips are marvelous. The kiss at the end was exquisite…
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The Punisher (2004)
Brutal, but not as much “fun” as the other Marvel flicks, partly because he doesn’t have any special powers. He’s just a pissed off dude. Jane is pretty good, but a bit boyish-looking for the part. Romijn is still hot. She’s becoming the staple Marvel hot girl. Nash as the…
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The Last Emperor (1987)
Long. A bit convuluted and hard to follow at times. Perhaps I don’t know ebough about the history of china, and most people who awtch this film do? Is it fair to expect that of viewers? Whose story is it? O’Toole’s or the Emperors? Or the empress? It wavers. The…
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Vanilla Sky (2001)
A very thoughtful movie. I’m really starting to like Crowe. A bit of a mindfuck, successfully keeping me off-balanced throughout. This movie could fit into the same category as Total Recall, What Dreams May Come, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Forgotten, The Others, and Flightplan, all featuring a…
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The Blues Brothers (1980)
Aykroyd and Belushi aren’t terribly cool or funny. This movie is really just an excuse to get some cool performers together for some jamming. Brown, Hooker, and Charles turn in good performances. But while Franklin’s acting is good, her lip-synced performance is awful. The comedy and timing is a bit…
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In Good Company (2004)
The Secret of my Success storyline is not taken seriously enough, and Grace isn’t funny or charming enough. I’ve always liked Quaid. He’s never broken out with an Oscar-worthy performance, but he’s always been solid.
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Joe Dirt (2001)
Probably intended to be a similar type of vehicle to Spade as Austin Powers was to Mike Myers. But this one’s not quite as funny. Pressly is stunning.
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Super Troopers (2001)
Dumb. Where’s the comedy? That “Whoah, we’re so drunk/wasted!” humor doesn’t do it for me. I get the feeling that there are a lot of inside law enforcement jokes here…
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Wedding Crashers (2005)
Very funny, with some real heart at its center. If anything, it drags on a bit at the end. Great timing and classic characters. Wilson and Vaughn play off each other very well, and their dialogue (a lot of which seems ad-libbed) is very natural and sharp. McAdams is pretty…
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The Passion of the Christ (2004)
While the flashbacks paint a picture of the character, it’s not enough to make the cliamactic suffering palatable. He suffered. That point is made sickeningly clear. But without the character build, it’s way overdone. Gibson seems to have a thing for dramatic torture, as it is also featured in the…
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The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Funny. Carell’s got talent. Too many super close-ups of his face, though.
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Super Size Me (2004)
Spurlock’s carefully researched discussion of the fast food industry, interspersed with playful but informative animation and editing, is educational and eye-opening. Like Michael Moore, he is resourceful, eloquent, and funny. Spurlock takes a leg up by sacrificing his own well-being to make his point.
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Arlington Road (1999)
Probably the best of the mad bomber movies, and the second for Bridges. Thr paranoia storyline is pretty good, but I’m not sold on the fact that Fenimore was counting on Faraday choosing the wrong van to follow on the way to he FBI building. Robbins seems to prefer these…
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Bad Santa (2003)
The whole “mean Santa” thing is a laugh, but it can’t sustain a whole movie. And when we realize that he’s a genuine asshole, it’s hard to recover. And it almost does. Thornton’s great, and the kid’s good, too.
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Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
Almost completely ruined by that ridiculous satellite angle and silly Aussie humor. You know it’s bad when you enjoy the outtakes more than the movie. Irwin’s got a lot of character. A few of those crocs are either sedated or Irwin is certifiably insane. He could have carried the movie,…
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Logan’s Run (1976)
Like a lot of movies of the period, it’s pretty obvious that the filmmakers were on drugs, or at least wanted that free-spirited attitude of the time represented in the film. Perhaps the cheesiest visual and sound effects for the future ever. Lots of saturated colors, goofy and impractical clothing,…
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Schindler’s List (1993)
Spielberg tells the story with emotion, humility, and with amazing, documentary-like historical detail. The drama is easy with subject matter like this. Neeson is wonderful. Despite his hateful character, Fiennes is fantastic. Cast-wide underacting really helps to make things believable. Beautiful photography and powerful, haunting music. What’s with the colorized…
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Citizen Kane (1941)
Story’s not bad. Some of the timing is a bit off, resulting in a few awkward moments as the scene fades. Really good camerawork for its time. Great use of lighting, interesting angles, and some really interesting camera movements. Most of the old age make-up, except for Welles at the…
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Empire of the Sun (1987)
Pretty good as a poignant biography, but it meanders a bit. Not quite sure what story is being told. Spielberg’s movie’s are too “perfect.” Too fomulaic, too staged, too scripted. And he seems to have a things for WWII, prison camps, and innocent young boys. Pretty nice cast. Bale is…
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I'm a photographer, web developer, travel enthusiast, and movie buff living in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.In the summer of 1993, I started writing reviews for every movie I saw and haven't looked back. I'm up to 2,363 reviews now. This makes me cool or a complete dork, depending on your perspective.
Some of these reviews contain spoilers, so if that bothers you, don't read!
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