Movie Review

[Carl East]

This has probably been tried before, but any hoo. I thought it might be fun to review the films that I watch, especially the ones I think you should rush out and rent/buy etc.

I called it 'Movie Review,' so that anyone wanting to make mention of their own particular faves could do so. The first Movie I'm going to review is an action adventure entitled 'Van Helsing.'

VAN HELSING:

The first thing you have got to be aware of before seeing this film, is that it's specifically directed at people who want to be entertained and perhaps escape from the norm for a while. I say this because there is nothing astounding here, where the acting or plot is concerned. For sheer Entertainment value however, this film belongs in my top ten of great movies.

The visuals are a treat from start to finish, and whether or not it was the directors intention, it comes across as a kind of classic Hammer horror, only far better.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend renting this movie out, it's worth every penny.

Carl

ps Please feel free to either add your own comments about the above movie or start a review on another.

 

[yui]

Hi Carl,

Thanks for the review! I will have to check out Helsing soon!

My recommendations are (I've posted these before, so I am cheating, but I do love these movies):

1. "Metade Fumaca " - It stars Nicholas Tse and Eric Tsang and might just be the perfect mix of drama/comedy and exceptional style and cinematography. What makes it really wonderful is that it is full of so many little joys, from a wonderful soundtrack to excellent performances. I can watch it over and over and over…and truth be told, I have.

2. "Dry Wood, Fierce Fire " - It is a Miriam Yeung and Louis Koo movie and it is a super fluffy romantic slap-stick comedy. I love it. For whatever reason, I can sit and watch it over and over and still laugh at all the goofy parts.

Luck,

Yui

Edited to add clickable reviews of the movies (they link to Love HK Film.com).

 

[rgraham666]

Yeah, Van Helsing was a hoot.

That red headed vampire with the 'huge tracts of land' was very sweet.

 

[SnoopDog]

Since I'm a huge movie-nut I thought a thread called 'Movie review' would be a thread for me.

But since you recommended 'Van Helsing' I'm outta here, never to return. That was the worst movie I saw last year.

Snoopy

 

[steve w]

Saw a film the other day which would be worth renting -

Called "Citizen X"

Starring Stephen Rea, it's based on the true story of the Soviet Union's first identified serial killer. Set in the 1980s as the Soviet system crumbles, Stephen Rea plays a man tasked with identifying the murderer of a string of children and young people. The authorities refuse to believe something as "decadent or Western" as a serial killer could be in their society. As a result, Rea has to pursue the killer virtually alone.

What I liked about this movie was that there is no chase, no shoot 'em up ending. It's all beautifully slow and carefully done and, in moments you wouldn't expect, highly moving.

Try it as a thoughtful and different look on an established subject.

 

[SensualCealy]

Rented Garfield for the kids the other night, it sucked big time!! Don't waste your money on that one.

Went to see 'The Incredibles' at the theatre, it was good, alot of adult content from inuendos etc. Good see for everyone that wants to laugh at the superheros.

Bought Spitfire Grill the other day to watch when everyone was out of the house. Good movie, sort of a chick flick but Im sure hubby would watch it if there wasnt anything else on tv. For a cheap older movie rental it would be worth it to watch.

C

 

[Carl East]

That was the worst movie I saw last year.

Snoopy

The only comment I have for this remark is that you couldn't have seen many films then? Perhaps escapism isn't in your make-up Snoop, perhaps for you they have to be really polished with outstanding acting abilities.

I only demand one thing from any film I watch. It's got to be entertaining. I could've gone on and on about the acting (or lack there of) but the fact is I enjoyed the special effects and camp acting. For me it was different from the norm.

Carl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Since I'm a huge movie-nut I thought a thread called 'Movie review' would be a thread for me.

But since you recommended 'Van Helsing' I'm outta here, never to return. That was the worst movie I saw last year.

Snoopy

I might agree with this, except I didn't get through the whole movie... Not by a long-shot.

Q_C

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Turkey flick (ie don't waste your money on this shit) is without a doubt "Undercover Brother". It spews out every cliché there is about the differences between white and black Americans, and it has a reverse-racistic message; that you shouldn't mix races. Really cheap, boring plot, and I refused to watch more than ½ hour of it.

Candy flick (ie sweeeeeeeeeet) is "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban". OK, it's not as good as the first 2 movies, and it's not half as good as the book (which is my all-time favourite of the so far 5 books), but it's definitely worth seeing. It has several funny scenes, and if you don't know The Secret, it's rather exciting. The werewolf scene was nice and spooky, but the real scream-scene here is when Hermione's being swept around by the furious enchanted tree, the Whomping Willow! I recommend it!

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban". . . it's not half as good as the book . . . my all-time favourite . . .

Svenskaflicka,

Since a movie can't REALLY be made from a book (only an adaptation) do you think that maybe you like the movie less because you like the book more?

 

[CharleyH]

I see too many movies, so will stick to the ones I saw in the theatre:

Birth: The most incredibly interesting film of this past year. The silence is stunning, and there is so much silence in the film that it becomes eerie. The concept is amazingly original. I was diing to see it, which is ironic to say the least. The symbolic nature of the film intrigued me and I was a bit baffled as to why people were so upset about the 'bathtub' scene. There are two tub scenes, and while they are both significant, it is the second which has the most impact. I cannot say enough good things about this film, and yet if I say anything - I give it away - LOL, so - SILENCE.

Predator vs. Alien: If it wasn't for someone else dragging me with promises of paying, it would be one I would have avoided. As it stands, it is one I should have avoided, even if I did get paid. This is one for the "should have known better" books.

Hero: Visually beautiful and it had an atypical ending. You can't beat Jet Li.

Kill Bill V 2: Could have beat Jet Li, but didn't. Probably explains the reason for Tarantino's involvement in the formerly mentioned.

Saw: Must admit to being impressed with it. Now, there were, of course, certain things that I could have done without, like Danny Glover's character implausibly going off the wall, and a recap of events as if I were stupid enough not to have picked up on it in the first place, but I must admit that it was a good movie considering there was no CGI. It was refreshing to be held in suspense with good, old fashion plot techniques rather than eerie cat sounds coming from little boys, as in the Grudge. Now, it was not the best film of the year, but it was better than the Grudge, and a slew of other horror/suspense films I have seen this year, and quite frankly Saw was, on this scale, far superior to the over-rated Blair Witch Project. It's worth a look despite the critics, but that's just me - being a critic.

The Grudge: I begrudge. A waste of money, and therefore already a waste of words.

Oh there are tons more, but if I can't remember them, well, that says it all.

 

[cloudy]

The Business of Fancy Dancing: One of those that you absolutely have to pay attention to. It's not escapism, by any stretch of the imagination, but rather one of those that makes you think. I loved it, but was really glad I had watched it by myself. It was filmed with no script, the actors only knew the situation, and where the movie was going, and took it from there. I sat there as the credits went by with tears rolling down my face.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

I liked Alien Vs. Predator. It did its job... it wasn't supposed to be the thriller that all the Alien movies (less and less, with each sequel) were, it was far more a continuation of the Predator movies. Very important point, there. In that respect, I got action and killin' and cool deaths and "humane" moments at the end. Worth the price of admission for fans of Predator.

I'm a huge movie fan. I don't have time to watch television, but I've got a stupid huge DVD collection (500-ish) and always have a movie going on in the background when I'm working.

Van Helsing was good. Campy action movie with cliche's all over the place and comic relief. I dug it. I saw The Incredibles last night--very groovy. Looking forward to Ocean's Twelve.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Van Helsing was good. Campy action movie with cliche's all over the place and comic relief. I dug it. I saw The Incredibles last night--very groovy. Looking forward to Ocean's Twelve.

Hey, Joe, when you saw Incredibles, did you get a bit of a vibe that it was like a Pixar-ized version of The Watchmen? Or was that just me?

And one I'd add to the list as it's been available in English dubbing with very good voices for awhile now, is Princess Mononoke. A very groovy and quasi-dark anime about man and nature and especially the poisons of hate and greed. A very good jumping off point into the world of anime as well.

 

[woodnymph_O]

ok it's a lil old but..

I stil reccomend quills. I loved it. Plenty sick and twisted

 

[Evil Alpaca]

Just saw Blade: Trinity.

THERE'S two hours of my life I'm never gettin' back.
Seriously, with the exception of Ryan Reynolds (who was funnier than all hell), the only thing good about that movie was how easy it was to make fun of . . . constantly. It's nice to know Wesley Snipes has given up on the idea of even TRYING to act though. It wasn't his strong suit.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Got a question.

Did anybody see “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” in the theatre.

I had heard that it was coming since June, saw a few promos, and before I could turn around it was gone.

Was it THAT bad, that strange, or what?

 

[Evil Alpaca]

Got a question.

Did anybody see “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” in the theatre.

I had heard that it was coming since June, saw a few promos, and before I could turn around it was gone.

Was it THAT bad, that strange, or what?

It was THAT bad. The plot was paper thin (not including inconsistencies) and Gwenyth Paltrow was doing the most ham-handed and bad acting job I've ever seen her do (and normally I like her). The only thing that was even remotely good about it was that it was visually quite stunning, but even that got tiring to look at.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by Virtual_Burlesque
Got a question.

Did anybody see “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” in the theatre.

I had heard that it was coming since June, saw a few promos, and before I could turn around it was gone.

Was it THAT bad, that strange, or what?

It was great. But saying that, its contextual. It wasn't The Shawshank Redemption or Citizen Kane... it wasn't intended to be. It was a fantastic homage to those excellent Chapter Plays and Pulp Era stories I grew up watching. Flash Gordon had some horrible acting and horrible special effects and some of the absolute thinnest plots ever concieved by man, but as a fantastical super-scape... ah, excellent stuff.

I thought all of the actors did a great job--and I believe they all had a great time doing it. Giovanni Ribisi was excellent as that cliche "best pal of the hero" complete with the clipping accent and sarcasm. The mysterious woman. The vampy campy heroinne. The bold, square-jawed hero.

You have to be light-hearted. There's being critical to a film because the film failed in its objectives (the really weak romance story of Gigli or the action sequences Stilleto Dance), but then there's appreciating a movie based on the concept.

People stil rail against Citizen Kane for its poor acting or vaguery... but fail to understand or appreciate that the cinematography was revolutionary and was the major endeavor in the film. Context. So much of movies in context.

 

[SnoopDog]

The only comment I have for this remark is that you couldn't have seen many films then? Perhaps escapism isn't in your make-up Snoop, perhaps for you they have to be really polished with outstanding acting abilities.

I only demand one thing from any film I watch. It's got to be entertaining. I could've gone on and on about the acting (or lack there of) but the fact is I enjoyed the special effects and camp acting. For me it was different from the norm.

Carl

The funny thing is, I'm totally like you. I LOVE movies that are just entertaining and also big effects blockbusters.
However, it's has to NOT be pathetic. And VanHelsing was nothing else than pathetic.

Similar was AvP. It was not as bad as VanHelksing but in the end didn't entertain me but annyoed me. And didn't even play on anything that made the Alien- or Predator-movies good and cool.


Snoopy

 

[English Lady]

... I grew up watching. Flash Gordon had some horrible acting and horrible special effects and some of the absolute thinnest plots ever concieved by man, but as a fantastical super-scape... ah, excellent stuff....

Flash Gordon (ahh ahhh) is my favourite film ever! I watched it over and over as a kid and will go out of my way to watch it even now It's all in the bad acting and dodgy plot. I love it!*chuckles*


Ok so me? I don't get to see things in the cinema much. My film of this year was probably Shrek2. Loved Shrek, love the sequel just about as much I think. My daughter was confused by shrek and donkey changing but she enjoyed it too.

Gotta love the gingerbread man *nods*

I honestly don't think I've seen anything else this year though I really want to see polar express.

 

[Carl East]

My next review is 'DAY AFTER TOMORROW,' now I looked forward to seeing this one when I first saw the clips. My main gripe with this movie, is that its plot was virtually non existent. After watching 'INDEPENDANCE DAY and GODZILLA,' (which I enjoyed)from the same director I half expected better things.

Unfortunately it wasn't forth coming, it simply never grabbed my attention or imagination. Mainly because it was too far fetched, but partly because I didn't like a single character in the entire film. I don't know about anyone else, but liking the characters you see on the screen plays a big part for me.

A good example of that would be the drunk in Independance Day who saves the day, now he was someone I didn't want to see dying because I cared about his character.

So in conclusion, DAY AFTER TOMORROW was a poor film at best in my opinion. I would suggest you do as I do though, and ignore any good/bad critizism and judge it for yourselves.

Carl

 

[CharleyH]

People stil rail against Citizen Kane for its poor acting or vaguery... but fail to understand or appreciate that the cinematography was revolutionary and was the major endeavor in the film. Context. So much of movies in context.

Under which rock do they rail?

(Seriously. As opposed to it's release, it is the one movie that I can think of that is over-heralded as the best thing that ever occurred in the history of Hollywood narrative.)

 

[SensualCealy]

I saw 'Day after Tomorrow' as well, I wouldn't say it was the best nor would I say it was the worst movie I ever saw.

It was good, but it did lack alot of plot or story line which ever. I honestly didn't get any 'feeling' from this movie, it was all such controlled anxiety. The only time it seemed as though death was close would be when the son calls home... am I odd or did others see this too?

Not one of Dennis Quaid's better movies!
C

 

[arienette]

Re: ok it's a lil old but..

I stil reccomend quills. I loved it. Plenty sick and twisted

Oh my god, yes! I love that movie.