Reviews

For starters, I'll say that I have read the first few graphic novels in the Scott Pilgrim series by Bryan Lee O'Malley and had seen a couple of trailers, so I thought that I had some idea what to expect as I went to a pre-release screening in Omaha. Still, my expectations were blown away. To bring such content to the big screen from a graphic novel is always a challenge, and with the content being so video-game centric, perhaps even more so. However, Edgar Wright clearly overcame the challenge with great casting, good pacing, and what I can only call appropriate special effects.

From the appearance of the Universal logo and music at the beginning all the way to the end (well, the start of the credits, at least), I found the movie an incredibly fun experience, with many laughs at sight gags, one-liners, and the random geekery that the people who made the film obviously knew that their target audience would be looking for. Additionally, a good soundtrack surrounds much of the on-screen action.

I know that there are people who just think that Michael Cera is the worst thing since unsliced bread, and these are people who should clearly avoid this film for the sole reason that it contains Michael Cera. I think he works well in this role. There are times where the actor can make or break a film, but I don't see Cera breaking this film.

Scott Pilgrim probably won't be breaking any box office records, but I'd like to think that word of mouth can help this film get the attention it deserves from the audiences that would most appreciate it, which would be those who enjoy classic video game culture and the interesting characters in this film who live in a world which many a Nintendo Power subscriber could only dream of.

Just don't go in thinking you're going to see Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, as you'll likely be disappointed. This is a very different film, but I would say that it's trying to have as much fun as either of Wright's other two most popular films.

Being a fan of NPR's "This American Life" for so many years, I couldn't wait to see this show from the moment I heard about it. Just like the radio show, the television series finds fascination in the mundane, tells the stories that might otherwise never be told. And with each story, perhaps, you might gain a little insight into what makes different people tick.

Ira Glass's narration is always just enough, never overbearing, and the presentation is visually very artistic. The soundtrack accompanying the narration and interviews is just as fitting as it is on the radio show, and it really just makes a great transition from radio to television.

If you enjoy creative documentary-style storytelling, this is certainly a show you'll enjoy.

See the door? If this movie is on in your vicinity, perhaps now would be a good time to open the door, step outside, and close the door, making sure it's locked behind you. It's just that bad. It's even worse than another François Ozon film I've seen called "Water Drops on Burning Rocks."

At 50 minutes, this film is excruciating. Some may call it a brilliant art film, but to call it a film is to simply say that anything that IS filmed can be considered a movie. Which is true, to some extent, but that is far from saying that everything on film is a something that people would like to see.

The concept of this film seems to be one of "Oh boy, cynicism!" The characters are empty glasses at the start, filled a bit with their actions, only to be emptied again at various points so that completely unbelievable things can occur. And these unbelievable things... They advance the plot, right? Nope! They're just thrown in there to remind us all that the world is a horrible place and everyone in it is potentially going to despoil your like-new toothbrush and perhaps do a few other things that aren't very nice for no particular reason.

This is a film that asks the audience to draw their own conclusions, I suppose. But when all is said and done, what conclusions can even be drawn from it? Not many, and those few that can be drawn aren't too remarkable. This is an empty film. Out of a 10, I give it a 2.

Here's a film that might have been more at home in the 1930's or 40's, but even then, I don't see who would find it enjoyable. The entire film had a feeling of wrongness.

I don't dislike Red Skelton, but his performance (along with those of the rest of the cast) is awful. Nothing funny happens. A few scenes attempt to be heartwarming, but it's not like they're shooting for any depth or originality. The musical numbers felt completely out of place (like most of the scenes in the film).

In the end, this film left me wondering why I'd just sat through it. The first few minutes started the boring experience that was the entire film. Thankfully, it wasn't a full-length feature film!

For those who are tempted to watch this turkey, I'd say you'd find your holidays a bit brighter if you didn't.

Every so often, a movie comes along that makes half the world reel in agony at its tremendous horridity while the other half of the world delights in the blissful ignorance that is their lives. Tomb Raider is such a movie.

From beginning to end, I waited for something to simply happen! The action scenes were dull, the special effects weren't special at all, seeming almost dull when compared to films of comparable budget. There were far too many "dramatic" lulls for this film to even be classified in the action genre.

Which brings me to the acting. What had moviegoers done to deserve this cast, this script, this monstrosity?! I have no real qualms with any of the actors themselves, as I've seen most of them in other films that weren't as sickeningly horrid as this film. It's just that maybe they didn't get enough sleep the night before most of the scenes were shot? I don't really know how to explain away an entire untalented cast in this one film! I expected that Chris Barrie would have provided some comedy, but instead, he was just sort of "there" like the rest of the cast.

That there were certain respected critics saying that this was a "fun" movie completely astounds me. That anyone can truly call this a great film is baffling. But to each his own, I guess. I'd sooner choose such video-game-to-big-screen films as "Resident Evil" or... um... Well, I can't think of any other game-to-movie films that were really all that great. But I'd guess it's safe to say that Tomb Raider would have to rank near the very bottom of the pile!

Though this film is lacking in many areas, it makes up for this with its handling of an unusual storyline. The progression from beginning to end is not exactly a logical one, and there is some light humour and drama throughout, but nothing too outstanding or memorable.

The actors have a few good moments, but for the most part make the movie feel a bit too melodramatic. Most of the would-be emotional scenes are buffered by the actors' overemphasis.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this film, but I can think of many films that are worse, and I'm sure there are a number of people who would enjoy it. The plot alone would be my sole reason for telling someone to watch it.

If the Sci-Fi Channel hadn't canceled Mystery Science Theater 3000, they could have premiered this movie there, as it ranks right up there with some of the worst science fiction films of all times.

Of course, I didn't expect much from a TV movie, but the plot was about as impossibly shallow as possible, and all the "surprises" were ridiculous and for the most part predictable.

The cast is not surprisingly completely at a loss to handle the incredibly dense script, despite the inability of most of them to act. Bruce Campbell would normally shine in such a role, but even he seems to be simply trudging through the movie from start to finish.

The most welcome part of the film: the ending, because it's over and there's no more watching involved! Avoid this one unless you're really into watching punishingly bad alien movies.

This movie caught my eye on the rental shelf, and I must say I expected more of it from what I read on the back of the box. What it turned out to be was an after-school special sort of film when I expected something bordering on original.

This is not to say that the story wasn't at least somewhat compelling. The cinematography also had some rather high points, and the score was far from disappointing. It's just that it was presented in a way that almost bypasses the viewer altogether.

True, there are emotional scenes in the movie, but so much of the genuine emotion is drowned out by the repetition of practically the same sorts of situations. And the predictability of the film doesn't really add to its allure.

Still, the flaws don't make this a bad film. Out of a possible 10, I give this film a 6.

This movie apparently STARTS at one point, and could be said to end at a later time. However, the moments from start to finish are painfully slow and there is a biting lack of dialogue or action, all interspersed with pointless momemnts of complete nothingness! It's like this movie is a void!

There may be some who think the story progresses nicely, revealing new plot points at just the right points. To these people, I must ask if they were watching the same film as the one I saw! The story is shallow, the characters are shallow, and the directing is mediocre at best.

At just over 2 hours, this film is a complete waste of time. It's existence is completely unjustifiable. Of course, that could be said of many movies that actually see theatrical release in recent years. My advice: Avoid this film unless you're doing a study in how to make a below-average modern-noir film.

This entire film is nothing but unfunny jokes, overchoreographed action sequences, and gratuitous near and partial nudity. Many would claim that for these reasons, Charlie's Angels is a great film. Unfortunately, every film that's coming out is just as shallow and empty-beyond-the-surface as this film. It's nothing new in a time where more and more movies (especially the ultra-popular blockbusters of similar genres) decide that the best way to go is the unoriginal, tired way that everyone apparently seems to love.

And a note to whoever made this drivel: Corny isn't funny! Never has been! Get a clue and make a film that includes ACTUAL humour for once. Of course, by now I doubt the moviegoing public would know real humour if they ever saw it! Avoid this one if you value your time. I want my hour and a half back!

Hollywood has a tendency to produce films that cost millions of dollars that fail to do anything apart from look different. "The Cell" is a movie where special effects and a couple of big names brought it box office success, and had at least one well-known critic kneeling before it as a great film.

But when you take the time to sort out what the movie is made up of, and what any given element of the movie amounts to, it's very empty indeed. The characterization of everyone in the film, including the crazed killer who is the focus of all the mind-trotting, are as thin as they come. This may as well have been any one of a number of campy horror films with a very basic plot and the least interesting characters you'd hope to find.

Some of the visuals were nice, but what's eye candy without something to back it up? Just eye candy. And that's what this film turns out to be. The casting wasn't even very good, with hopelessly bad acting from the majority of the basic cast.

If there was a 0 on the IMDB rating scale, I'd give this film a 0, as I consider it a complete waste of time with absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever except to those who made it and who need to earn back the millions it cost to make and market as the blockbuster it became. Just don't let the hype fool you this time!

The fact that this film is so popular seems almost as implausible as the incredibly predictable "moments of suspense" it contains!

Personally, I found it hilariously bad! The acting wasn't as bad as the story, but no amount of Hollywood talent could have made this film worthwhile unless it had been written as a comedy.

The film presents Death as so methodical and swift, but so many times that all of the people who walked off the plane before it crashed are grouped together, Death is taking a breather, apparently! I mean, for cryin' out loud! At least 39 days have passed before Death even decides to take care of his unfinished business!

As for the ending, I have to wonder if the writers hadn't been watching some Road Runner cartoons as they wrote it! If you've seen it, you'll know what I mean.

So many people have praised this film for being original. But in my opinion, it borrows much from "The Frighteners," a horror/comedy from a few years back. If you want to see a film with someone dealing with Death in a decent horror/comedy context, I'd highly recommend watching "The Frighteners" instead of "Final Destination."

I suppose if you want a good "Mystery Science Theater 3000" type of laugh-fest, "Final Destination" might be the sort of movie for you. Any value beyond that is unknown to me!

When I first ran across this gem, it was about 3am. The scene with the car accident was just occurring. I find this to be very fortunate, because if it hadn't caught my attention, I might have kept flipping the channels right past it. Let's just say that the car accident really grabbed my attention.

Here was this seemingly serene movie, lovely young woman driving along, listening to Velvet Underground, and all of a sudden, the scene is contrasted by this amazing accident! The accident actually sets the tone for much of the movie, which is why I even bother to mention it.

The accident leads to a scene where the audience discovers that Soo-hyun has a problem with her tear ducts, which seems to symbolize that she is out of touch with her emotions, or at least has trouble expressing them to those around her.

As for the acting, it's brilliant. The characters aren't perfect. If they had been perfect, this movie would have been akin to "You've Got Mail," which essentially pales in comparison to "The Contact." "You've Got Mail" is nothing more than the simplest of unlikely love stories. But with "The Contact," there's a certain unpredictability. The characters seem so authentic that you don't know who will end up with who in the end.

If you should ever have the chance to see this film, and you're the sort of person who likes something different from the monotonous American romances, be sure to see it! So far as I'm concerned, there's not a dull moment, and the ending is exquisite.

Here's a truly delightful film. The animation is great, the characters are developed a bit beyond their cartoon personas, and the story fits the spirit of the show one-hundred percent.

The short "Pikachu's Rescue Adventure", despite a very small amount of lower-quality animation, at times showed the true potential of what an animated short can be! The musical number involving a large group of Pokémon was visually stunning, but would have left a greater impression if the original music from the Japanese version of the film had been left in place, as the tune inserted was average, if not boring. It still couldn't ruin the scene altogether, however.

The movie itself was filled with animation which shouldn't let down fans of anime. Many point to Pokémon as an example of choppy, low quality animation, but I cannot see where these comments come from. The animation in this movie is smooth and colorful, and at times, there's so much happening on-screen that you could miss a funny incident happening aside from the main theme of a scene.

The characters go through several experiences which could lead to them being redefined a bit in the TV series. Team Rocket has a larger role in this film than in Pokémon: The First Movie, which I'm sure will delight many Team Rocket fans. The major villain in this film, by not being incredibly evil but by being so single-mindedly greedy, wanting one thing without any concern for the consequences, his character shows that good and bad isn't always so clear cut. The characters, despite their simple appearances, are quite complex when you take a closer look.

The soundtrack to the movie may not seem so remarkable, but the Weird Al Yankovic song "Polkamon" is refreshing and the instrumental score stands out as above-average.

The film stands as an entertaining addition to the Pokémon universe. It dares to be original, and though many people automatically detest it because it's popular, it stands to help popularize Japanese animation in the U.S. so that it and movies like it won't simply be pushed aside as "kid stuff".

If you enjoy seeing what must have started as a 2 hour movie in unconnected bursts of unwatchability, you'll love this film. Otherwise, you'll just wonder how they could have made such a film from something so simple to translate to the big screen as Inspector Gadget.

In the previews for the film, many scenes were shown which were not in the film, and within the film, some scenes just don't make sense. While the movie is slightly less than 1 hour and a half, I can only think of one truly memorable moment, and that is just before or during the credits!