Jeff's Reviews

Thoughts on every movie I've ever seen.

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Hero (2002)

Just not much fun. The Rashomon-inspired story is meager, the characters are uninteresting. The martial arts and swordplay are pretty good, but the wire stunts are artificial and the effects are a few dollars short of Matrix quality. Lots of nice photography and fabulous use of color, but what for?…

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Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Great action and lots of nice shots. The train scene is pretty amazing. Funny! Maguire is believable and entertaining, Molina is refreshingly real, and Simmons is once again perfect.

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Alexander (2004)

Obviously a tribute to the historical figure. An epic story, but a bit slow and rolling, making the running length seem much longer than it really is. A few moments of real drama and some gripping action scenes punctuate the storyline. Some of these battles we’ve never seen before. The…

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In America (2002)

Choked me up. Fabulously made by Sheridan, and the acting is fantastic. The kids were truly magical. Where are the Oscars? Maybe a hair long.

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The Stepford Wives (2004)

It’s got some stars in it, but it’s not a very moving story, and it’s a bit slow. How were they able to fool Mike at the moment of truth in his complex? Kidman is good in a familiar role as a paranoid woman trying to figure out how the…

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National Treasure (2004)

Another one off the Hollywood conveyor belt. Not bad, but nothing special. While I like Cage, I think he’s getting a bit old and goofy to be an action star, I think. Kruger is hot.

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Cosmic Voyage (1996)

Better effects than Cosmos, but not nearly as in-depth. It’s almost “dumbed down” a bit.

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Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Moore is very resourceful, graphic, funny, and matter-of-fact in his informative critique of America’s gun culture. Llike Fahrenheit 9/11, it gets a bit convoluted at times, but in the end it’s a thorough and thoughtful exploration of the topic.

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Mean Girls (2004)

Pretty witty high school comedy, like Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion. Smarter than most SNL productions. McAdams is hot, and Chabert has grown up nicely.

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Van Helsing (2004)

Very glossy, in that the lighting, framing, and effects are all perfect. Unfortunately, the non-stop action prevents the development of a story. Beckinsale is smoking.

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