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Insomnia (2002)
Makes you want to go to sleep
6 May 2003
This is not the best film to watch if you're interested in seeing Al Pacino combat some lethal killers who also have a soft spot- if you want that type of movie, see "Heat" which is a rare, touching action film that moves you with its seriousness and realistic storyline. It also does not sterotype killers such as being sociopaths or sick murderers who are after all of it for the blood and money.

But we're here to talk about a different movie. Insomnia, in one word, is interesting. The plot is original and I don't need to comment how great the acting is if you just look at the cast list. Hilary Swank even succeeds in annoying us on purpose as a tag along newbie police officer who likes to swoon after cops with big guns who catch the killers.

The whole movie is disoriented. If any one of you knows what it's like to have insomnia, you will very much appreciate the special effects. It really is amazing how well it depicts what happens to a person when they can't sleep- people's voices run into each other, your sight changes as colors seem to get muddled and dark, the light hurts your eyes, and you're so tired that walking up a flight of stairs is like torture. When in the film Al Pacino has to run around chasing a corrupted killer who subtley gets off on controlling him and being looked at as the victim, you feel his distress. And as the movie goes on, you feel his need to go to sleep.

Insomnia isn't just about this little story here in Alaska with a tormented cop, killer, and several other unimportant characters that seem to live in a twisted and claustrophobic world. The bigger star here is insomnia. Watch it for the special effects- and if you don't like the plot or the characters, then it will save the movie for you. Then you can go to sleep not feeling like you just wasted your money on a cheap thriller.

7/10.
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Chasing Sleep (2000)
Jeff Daniels knows how to win us over
6 May 2003
Warning: Spoilers
*spoilers

I loved this movie, which is amazing because I'm a movie buff who is also a pretty tough critic. I've never seen a film such as this one. Jeff Daniels is the star, if not the only character we really notice, as the plot sucks us into his mind's confusion and indifference. The whole film is suspenseful and creepy-- and the ending is just simply shocking. Even if you suspected what happened, the look on Daniels' face and terrible state of mind will make you want to swallow those bottle of pills with him.

It's not a must-see, but grabbing and intense.

8/10.
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Runaway Bride (1999)
Can you say "stupid"?
6 May 2003
I praise the previous reviewer, Gunnar, and I totally agree. Julia Roberts is simply the most overrated actress in Hollywood. She's just like Kirsten Dunst- they both are stuck playing moods. You can't separate any of their characters because it's just them being the same person and having different emotions, with the same facial expressions and manner of speaking. I don't care what the hell people say about Tom Cruise but he is a wonderful actor. So is Nicole Kidman. These are adults who really know how to act that don't just read the scripts and slip into Melodrama mode. People basically like Julia Roberts because she's one of those "I'm not perfect looking and I'm still rich and successful and therefore people don't hate me," actresses.

Brad Pitt, for example, is obviously very much admired for his looks. But besides that, he knows how to act. Check him out in Interview with the Vampire and Seven Years in Tibet. He is a gorgeous man and is actually passionate about his job, which he doesn't suck at.

But back to this movie- Richard Gere is retarded in this, which doesn't surprise me. He can act okay but for some reason chooses not to. If you want to see him in a movie that doesn't make you want to throw up, watch The Mothman Prophecies.

This movie, badly, sucks. It's horrible. I hated it. Hollywood just took two big names and threw them in a movie to make a couple of billion dollars. It's never even about the acting anymore- it's just the money.

Julia Roberts is not that attractive and she can't act. Nicole Kidman is gorgeous and she is one of the best actresses of the century. Watch her. And don't see some stupid movie like this again hoping to actually get some talent out of these people. If you want real acting and sex, watch Eyes Wide Shut.

Damn I hate this movie.

0/10.
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10/10
a masterpiece fit we need
6 May 2003
this is an overall amazing movie. the cast can act, the storyline doesn't feel pressured to move quickly, the characters are developed, the cinematography is beautiful, and the whole movie in itself is one that you just cannot pass down. everyone who can read and understand english should see this movie. i won't spoil anything except to say that this low budget canadian film is a little masterpiece in modern cinema.

10/10
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Lolita (1997)
A disturbing experience
6 May 2003
Warning: Spoilers
*small spoilers

For now, put the pedophilia aside. This movie is tragic and beautiful. Not only that but Jeremy Irons has an acting ability that makes me wonder why we're not watching him all day instead of movie floppers like Hugh Jackman- oh, or Matthew McConaughey, who is in the worst flick chicks ever made that it is so disgusting it's not even funny.

Its sadness and helplessness is disturbing. The whole movie is suicidal, but it draws you to it because it's so gripping and beautiful in all its darkest parts.

To one viewer its incoherent outcry of the need to love and be loved in return is disturbing, when another viewer will find its pedophiliac plot and sexual themes to be the real disturbing piece. You cannot argue that Jeremy Irons plays a pedophiliac man, but that this movie might also stereotype a pedophile is apparent. But to have such a powerful stereotype it's only crucial that there be some truth to it, but let us not mistake or become unable to separate Humbert's depraved love for Lolita from his sick obsession to do anything to have her with only sexual intentions-- which make his character repelling and, of course, disturbing.

Most people will either love or hate this movie, but some have found a place in between. I can appreciate its vision of love and desperation- but unfortunately it's for all the wrong reasons. The film tries to draw us from the point that Lolita is a twelve year old girl, which makes the painful scene at the end with Lolita and Humbert completely necessary. Once it seems to lose its track it reminds us again of what's real and what's unacceptable- this shows also with what happened with Lolita's mother. If we did not have that then I'm afraid there would be no closure to justify the lines this movie has crossed over.

It's good, and it's bad, and gratefully it acknowledges this.

7/10.
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10/10
Disturbing and painfully beautiful
6 May 2003
I fell so much in love with this movie that I'm learning Swedish.

This is the best movie I have ever seen, and I have seen many. The acting is breathtaking, the plot is heart-wrenching and corrupting, and all in all this movie is the finest masterpiece ever made in film history.

That's all I need to say- that's all I can say. No words can describe its excellence. You really have to see it to understand.

10/10.
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Tall, Dark and Deadly (1995 TV Movie)
6/10
Gripping and intense
30 May 2002
Although this TV movie has not been paid much attention, and I did catch it on TV way after it ever came out, 'Tall, Dark and Deadly' is reasonably impressive being such a small project.

The plot itself is excellent, however simple, I can't think of any movie such a story has been used for. The musical score is quite catchy, again, it's simple, but it adds on well to the action in the movie and the building suspense. It's basically all about plot, almost like going on the ride for yourself, and within thirty minutes the movie is quite addictive. The story issues are broad, ranging from murder and obsession to blackmail and intense scenes of fear.

I do have a few complaints about the movie, for example, not all the plot is good. It barely touches on the sexual themes it presents which would be a much bigger deal given the situation. It also didn't explain the way things worked out in the end in detail, so I was left in confusion. There are a few plot holes, but nothing noticeable while in the midst of its suspense.

I recommend this film to just about anyone. 6/10
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Beautiful
2 April 2002
This movie is a lot of things. I loved the scenery and the olden days sense you get from watching it, but it's also very realistic in its madness and suffering. The story is intriguing and the film pretty much stays true to fact and follows the life of Vincent and Theo well. The end is depressing, and some of the movie is almost hard to watch, but it's all art and a wonderful movie in all. The actors were splendid and the movie in itself was very well done. 10/10
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2/10
Horrible Adaptation
29 March 2002
After seeing this movie in the theatre, it took me a few minutes to actually wonder if I liked it or hated it to death.

If you're looking for a movie based on Anne Rice's "Queen of the Damned" masterpiece, consider it non existant. This movie doesn't even come close to portraying the Chronicles' characters, and in fact doesn't even include some of the most important people, leaving you with a bunch of vampires who just happen to have some of the same names.

On a light note, the soundtrack rocks, Lestat is looking delicious, and the over all scenery can be very beautiful. However, only the digital effects, makeup, and the music made this film even worth trying to satisfy one's curiosity.

The movie itself is very unstable. The characters are confusing, and Lestat even has the wrong accent; he's supposed to be French, but in the movie he's Irish. The narration was retarded. I felt myself looking away a few times because I couldn't even watch, and just sitting there laughing the whole time at the movie's absurdity. Like Townsend said, it really is a cheesy film.

If you've read the books, however, you're in for an inside joke with David and Marius. They've never even conversed in the books, but here they seem to really like each other- and just WHAT do those two have in common? :)

Don't waste your time seeing this and buy the soundtrack. 2/10
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