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Reviews
Lost in Translation (2003)
Surprising Favorite
I don't generally buy DVD's but I bought this one. I've watched it a number of times now. I can't really put my finger on it but the movie seems to stir some kind of feeling inside me. I'm middle aged similar to the protagonist in this movie. I think it's the ideas that excite me. Being famous. Being paid lots of money. Dealing with mundane issues in life. Dealing with romance. Dealing with boredom. Dealing with middle age. Dealing with middle age sex. Dealing with a wife. Dealing with a mid-life crisis. How to have fun over 45. The comedy of life. The tragedy of life. The excitement of youth. The unbearableness of youth. This movie hits on everything I experience in a poignant way. I don't really know if the people that made the movie thought about all that or not. I doubt they did. But they got out of the way of life and let it spill out onto the film. And I connected with it at all levels. I am very much like Bill Murray and I really think Scarlett Johansson is a fantastic actress. It ranks in my top 10 ever.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Gee Whiz
I wanted to see this movie but after reading reviews about it's insultingly inaccurate portrait of military persons I won't see it no matter how entertaining it might be. No matter that it's 'just a movie' and a 'work of fiction' and a fantasy rendition of reality. No matter that everyone in it 'acts' and the screenplay isn't mil spec, does not pass muster, and does not have Sylvester Stallone in it or even a Marlon Brando look alike. If it disrespects the real people who are very boring in reality then I won't see it. Ever. Nor will I watch another James Bond movie or another Sandra Bullock movie. In fact, I may join a monastery and live the rest of my life celibate and lash my back with bamboo sticks daily every time I think about the inaccuracy of movies. God help us all. Amen.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Ugh
I now understand why the Catholic Church does not like this movie. I don't blame them. It portrays a bishop in a very negative light. The plot is improbable from the beginning. I just do not understand how anyone could take this seriously for more than 30 seconds out of the 2 1/2 hrs this movie runs. The plot is a joke. It should have been a comedy. The fellow who portrays Forest Gump or a cast-away who talks to volleyball's makes a very improbable professor of anything.
The only reason I rated this a 5 out of 10 was the villain saves this picture with a wonderful performance. He was the only convincing person in this movie. He is the one creating the drama. And he is the only one creating drama.
As for the writing, using the church to launch a drama is one of the dumbest notions ever conceived. Surely the idea pool is not this dry. Lunacy runs rampant throughout this whole story.
The Upside of Anger (2005)
Everything wrong with the modern female
If you are a man and were not offended by this movie you are probably gay.
Everything wrong with women's attitudes towards father's and men are showcased in the two hours this movie plays. Let me explain.
Husband of 30 years goes missing. Wife assumes he's a cad. Doesn't report him missing. Doesn't call police. Doesn't even call his office. Has an affair with the next door neighbor. Poisons his children into believing her horribly wrong assumption. Destroys his reputation by telling everyone she knows what she wants people to believe he did to her.
She is so self-centered she doesn't even know if her husband exists. She slaps her daughters boyfriend because her trust issues run so deep she has uncontrolled violence towards men. The man didn't strike back, which was a joke.
The romance with the neighbor is a joke. The woman is so vile, no self-respecting man would go near her. She offers absolutely nothing. She disrespects every male within hearing distant.
She is a contradiction. She wants her children to go to college but doesn't bother asking them. She is so self-centered, she couldn't possibly care about her children.
The worst moment in the film was when she lead her children to announce they hate their father. And worse yet, the kids (all girls) readily accepts this garbage. I guess father's rank right up there with dog poo.
The second worst moment in the film was after the funeral the witch and her brood are sitting at a picnic table with the witch's boyfriend, and they start laughing and smiling all gay and happy, confirming the father was indeed dog poo. Yes folks. Not a tear in site for dear old dad, who died and was forgotten quicker than they could get our of the funeral attire.
The men are dog poo, the women are self-centered, self-righteous, witches, and the children are dumb as logs.
So if that sounds interesting to you, then watch the movie. It pretty much ruined my day and makes me wonder if my wife and children actually care about me. Jaws was much better. At least all I have to do to avoid getting eaten is stay out of the water. How do I avoid gender discrimination and bias?
Logan's Run (1976)
Awesome Sci-Fi 70's Flick
This movie left a lasting impression because the story and concept are fantastic and the lead characters did a great job. The campy feel of the technology does not deter from the impact of this ageless film. People today tend to get hung-up on technology and forget the value of the story and the acting. I believe a lot of viewers today probably will not understand this film, and people who didn't get it back in the 70's probably still don't get it. The social statement is so true it's not even funny. We do not like old people. Just look around at print media, advertising, Hollywood, music, or sports. We treat older people like the plague.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
What's the message here?
I think Tim Allen is a very funny comedian but I came away from this "Christmas" movie feeling like the Kranks had it right before they caved in to pressure from the well-meaning neighbors. There is no pre-defined way to celebrate Christmas. Each person has their own reality to face during the holidays. I think the ending missed the mark. Jamie Lee Curtis suffered from the script and direction. She's such a incredible actor and personality, I found her entertaining inspite of this crummy movie she couldn't save. But this movie is probably more entertaining and uplifting than if you rent Passions of the Christ which is the anti-thesis of Christmas.
I, Robot (2004)
Highly entertaining
I want to say this makes a good family film but there is this one stupid pointless scene with Will Smith naked in the shower. If that whole scene was cut from the movie, nothing would be missed. It was tasteless and gratuitous.
The plot was surprising and intriguing with lots of interesting twists. The special effects were very good. If you like action and science fiction (or Will Smith's bare backside) then you'll like this movie.
It's gotten to the point that, if the movie is interesting and doesn't have a lot of foul mouth language, it's probably worth seeing. I was surprised to see Will Smith's language controlled to a dull roar. I think comedians that use foul language to get laughs didn't learn anything from Lenny Bruce.
The supporting cast was good too. Go see it. It's worth the $8.50 a ticket I suppose, depending on your budget. Movies are so expensive now. I think the whole movie industry needs to reinspect its navel and figure out how to decrease ticket prices. But I'm guilty of paying the ransom so it's fair to call me a hypocrite, but it doesn't make it right all the same.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Terrible Movie
Of all the incredible things that could have been expressed about Jesus Christ, this twisted movie choose to dwell on the horrific side effects of hatred and inhumanity. This is sensationalism at it's worst.
I've known the story of Christ since I was a child. I've seen some great movies made about the incredible nature of God's gift to mankind. I saw nothing here that said anything to me except that hollywood seems to be out of touch with reality.
The real story of the Christ and his life and miracle seemed to have be totally incidental to the focus of this movie. I honestly have no earthly idea what would possess someone to dwell endlessly on the inane torture of another human being.
There is so much more to Jesus's story than the tripe expressed here. This was a utter waste of celluloid. Try again Mr. Gibson.
The Insider (1999)
Well Done For a True Story
So many true story type movies are so totally boring but this is one of the rare exceptions. No T&A or violence here. Just fine storying telling with redeeming social values and all those qualities that the movie media has avoided since the early days. Not all of us want to see Richard Gere's butt or some insincere former model's fake parts. Please do more of these type movies. Then maybe I can take my kids with me to the theatre once again and we have something to talk about on the way home. That's entertainment...