Reviews

The film "The Return" despite what the fans of Sarah say is not a great movie, but is also far from being a crap as many said. In my opinion the great problem of the movie was the director. Although the movie is well managed in terms of photography is clear to me that the direction has made bad choices in time to cut the movie. OK the main plot doesn't help, but with right choices this movie could be much better. Some points:

1) The Joanna's ex is completely dispensable. 2) The character Joanna's father lived by Sam Shepard should have been better used. Sam is a great actor and with a lot of experience the director could use this to improve this movie. 3) In the beginning of this movie the director suggests that Joanna is haunted by Annie. However, the director puts the final scene that may suggest that in fact the girl Joanna died in the car's accident and Annie takes her place to keep her promise to Terry "in the soon see" or something like that. 4)The reaction of the people of that city with Terry is not well explained. I lived in a small town and there everybody knows everybody. The Terry could be a "though guy" but this never made someone an assassin. In the night of Annie's death, Terry and Annie play normally and everything is all right. In this case why someone could suspect of Terry? This never explained. It would be natural that they believe in Terry and believe that someone else from outside kill Annie. If there was any reason in the script to Terry became a suspect must have been lost during the filming.

I am a little sad when a movie that could be much better is waist this way. Is a waisting of time, actor, actress and money. Maybe I was a little hard, but despite all my criticisms i give 5 for this movie.

It's a very good movie directed by Arnaldo Jabor, this is one the best works of this very good director. The movie is about the relationship of a young couple, Fernanda Torres and Tales Panchacon. They argue its relation in wild, insane way and some times brutal. The movie change flavor drama to comedy without lost anything. But the comedy in this movie it's something cynical and bittersweet. Fernanda Torres works very well and has a very good chemistry with Tales character. Despite sometimes the movies sounds like crazy, wild and nonsense, in the end everything makes sense. After all, everything is about human relationship that frequently is wild and nonsense.

This movie was to be a horror movie, however just in beginning this film give some laughs. The initial sequence with two drunk friends is funny. I know this movie should be a horror movie, but i have some fun watch this movie. The Malcom McDowell performance is good, Jeremy Ratford make a reasonable performance with Chief Vance and Garwing Sanford well, his performance is weak and his character looks like a stupid one.

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There is found, a body in a small town in north Alaska, population 253 souls. When this happens, some other dies start to happen. Chief Vance and FBI agent try to uncover who is the man that is behind of this murders. One comment, in the beginning of this movie is clear that who is kill those people, yes the Barber, Malcom McDowell character, but i believe that isn't a big surprise.

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But in my opinion the End of this movie is everything ruins, could be much better. I cast 6 for this movie but, i think that deserve 5.5.

*** Minor Spoilers ***

Will Smith play Spooner a cop that investigate an apparent suicide of Dr. Lanning. Spooner is a Robot hater, because of something in his past. He think that a Robot kill Lanning, but no one believes because of three laws. In his investigation he find Sonny a very peculiar Robot. When he find Sonny this robot is a key to uncover a kind of conspiracy.

I, Robot is a good movie but i read Asimov since that i have 13 years old and this movie don't fit in Isaac Asimov vision. I all his books was very difficult a robot make some harm to a human being. Normally, when a unusually robot was "create" or discovered is a human that try to make harm. The logical defend by Vikki in this movie was negated by some Asimov books.

So this movie is good but only take a few thinks of Asimov ideas and he deserve a movie just like Blade Runner was to Phillip K. Dick.

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The movie justify perfectly his name Identity. Identity began with a strange car accident. The former detective and driver Ed (John Cusak) was responsible for this "accident" and try to help Alice York. Alice is married with a strange husband (George York ) and more strange boy Timmy York. After some attempts, trying to find a doctor, all they finish in a strange motel (This motel was building in a older cemetary). One by one, all characters a are trapped in this place including weird manager Larry. Ed was transport a actress Caroline Suzzane (Rebecca De Mornay), latter arrive the detective Rhodes (Ray Liotta), who is transporting the prisoner Robert Maine that is a murder. Also come to this place, the prostitute Paris (Amanda Peet), who is traveling alone when her car broke. Finally, arrive the young just married couple Ginny (Clea Duvall) and Lou (William Lee Scott). Soon, one by one are kill, of course everyone think that is Robert, but you will see that is not true. Meanwhile, something happens and a serial killer has a chance to escape of the death penalty, the character are: Dr. Malick (Alfred Molina) try to help the serial killer, Lawyer (Carmen Argenziano), the District Attorney (Marshall Bell), the Assistant District Attorney (Matt Letscher) and Judge Taylor (Holmes Osborne) that is furious with this situation. It's something hard to explain but is very intriguer, and so solve the true is almost impossible to find the solution without a clue. I almost find the murder because his actions are very suspicious his look is very strange, but i suspect of the boy for wrong reasons. Because I believed that this movie, was a sobrenatural film. When i realize this not a sobrenatural movie i discarded the boy as suspect. This movie is very very good, i give a 8 in IMDB but i believe that deserve a 8,5.

The Last Brickmaker in America is a simple movie but is a good one. Ok, this movie is predictable too, but many movies in those days are, so i don't care about this.

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This movie bring Sidney Poitier in the role of Mr Henry Cobb a brickmaker that lost his wife recently. He don't see any reason for his life. Every change when a man appears in his house to bring a document that release him from any charges about the new library. From this point Cobb recover the taste for his life.

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With good performances with a simple but solid script these movie will go envoy the kind of people that is not expecting action and violence.

K-PAX it's a movie that is not very common nowdays. Prot (Kevin Spacey) is a strange person that was sending to a psychiatric hospital. Dr. Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges) is chosen to take care of this man. When Dr. Mark Powell try to "help" Prot, he discover that Prot it's a hard one. He has answer for everything that the good doctor send to him. Dr. Mark star to have some doubts about Prot if he is or not a human being. His knowledge about astronomy and others related subjects, impressed Dr. Mark. The question if Prot is or not an alien, is a focus in this movie. In my opinion he is a alien but i believe that are many people that disagree. I have some reasons to believe that Prot is an alien, but this a good point in this movie an open final. Moore, i believe that Prot for some strange reason is also a psychiatrist and try to help several people including the Dr. Mark. This movie has a focus in Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey with good performances (specialy Kevin). Some similarities can be found in Don Juan de Marco but this movie is superior.

This movie is one the best westerns ever made. This movie is about honor and about how a man can make himself. Watching this movie you have a impression that a man only can be considered a man if has honor. The storyline is simple, but very well conducted. The great performances of Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simons and Burt Ives and a very good direction make this movie almost perfect.

-------------------------------Spoilers-------------------------------------- Peck is man that arrive in the "Big Country" to see his fiance Pat Terril. Unfortunately this place is the middle of the war between two stubborn mans (Henry Terril and Rufus Hannassey). Naturally this war its going to a bloody confrontation and involving Peck. Slowly he realize that maybe his fiance isnt the best choice for him. He has some problems due to this stupid war.

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The all movie "said" honor is everything, if you dont have you isnt a man. This movie is a classic and i expect that i can have a chance to see this move again.

Some Spoilers ---

The X2 has a very interesting beginning when Nightcrawler try to kill the President of the USA. This sequence is amazing, but other sequences are nice too, like the invasion of the Xavier's Mansion. However, the following sequences don't have the same impact that the initial ones. How i expect, the attempt to kill the president was plot by Striker with the single objective to exterminate all mutants. As usually, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are great in his performances but the good surprise is Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler). I have disappointed with manage giving to Cyclops, in the comic books he is a leader but in the movie he is almost a character could be dispense. This is going on since first movie and i had a hope that in this movie Cyclops could be better. Unfortunately this don't happen, i doubt, but maybe in the next movie...

Spoilers -----

When i saw this movie a few days ago (2 May), i think that the movie has a good star. The first scene, is when Cyrus Kriticus try to hunt a ghost and is well succeed but with some casualties. In the beginning, lets clear that Cyrus is collecting ghosts for some kind of machine (which the purpose is unknown). There is a cut and the new scene star with a Arthur's family. In these scenes, is clear that Arthur was devastating with the lost of his wife, but start to recover this. Until this point the movie working good, but when Arthur and his family going to Cyrus house (Arthur is Cyrus's nephew) all movie became a mess. Exactly as a other comment said the two kids are there for one single reason bring some problems to Arthur (In other words: THIS SITUATION AGAIN?). There are only two things that save this movie of the complete failure: the performances of Tony Shaloub (as Arthur) and Mathew Lillard that try to do the best with these limited characters (ok F. Murray Abrahams don't compromise in the role of Cyrus). The situations don't work well, are nonsense and predictable. All this, is culminated with "The End" very weak.

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Tony Shaloub and Mathew Lillard could choose better films, also i believe that this movie could have a good development with some effort. This film could be a good movie but predictable scenes and very weak "The End" downfall any hope.

My vote is 5.

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Road to Perdition is a great movie, when i saw this movie i don't realize any serious flaw. The storyline is solid and consistent. The basic plot is about Mike Sullivan(Tom Hanks) that works as a hitman to John Rooney (Paul Newman). The Paul Newman's character is almost a father for Sullivan but this relationship star to break, when Sullivan and Rooney's son going to talk with a man. The result of this "visit" is Connor Rooney murder this man and worst Michell Sullivan's son see everything. Despite Sullivan said that your son don't talk Connor try to kill Michell Sullivan but this attempt fail. However, Connor himself attempt and kill Sullivan's wife and Peter (his other son). In response Sullivan going on to revenge and try to kill Connor. John, try to fix this situation sending a man to talk with Sullivan, but he refuse for two motives he want his revenge, and don't trust in Connor.

Spoilers ------------

Tom Hanks is great and his role, Hanks looks like a ordinary man and never resemble a hitman, but he is. I think that the most hitman, doesn't resemble a hitman but i simple man. Sullivan is cold man and always ready to kill someone. The only fear of Sullivan is that his son choose the same destiny that he choose. Paul Newman, is almost a typical mob, sweet and gentle but is hard when necessary. John Rooney has only one flaw, his son Connor and try to protect the best that he can. Also, Mendes directed this movie very well and the pictures are great.

My vote for this movie is 8

The basic plot is about a "real" history, of the German Director (Murnou). Murnou want the make a film about Dracula but have some problems to obtain a permission. Bewildered to accomplish this movie he simply change the names, and now the movie call Nosferatu (search in the imdb for more details). Murnou want that his film was perfect his masterpiece. So he try to find the perfect actor to role of Vampire, in his searches Murnou find (Max Schrek/Orlock). Murnou said to his friends that "Schrek" is a "actor" with strange methods of acting, but Max Schrek herself in fact is a Vampire and he does a pact with Murnou. The pact consist that (Schrek/Orlock) act in Nosferatu, in exchange Murnou offer to him the movie star Greta Schröder played by Catherine McCormack. The first problem that Murnou find out is that Orlock don't keep his word the make same "victims" during the filming. Realize that Orlock, can put in jeopardy the conclusion of the Nosferatu, and try to find a way of work with this situation.

John Malkovich played Murnou, a insane German genius director that want to make a masterpiece. Malkovich is great in the role of this insane director but William Dafoe is better playing (Schrek/Orlock). The best parts of this movie was the scenes when both Dafoe and Malkovich are together.

A new idea with solid performances of Malkovich and Dafoe, if you like this kind of movie you don't regret.

The ring is a mix of the terror and suspense. The story remember a urban legend, a reporter played by (Naomi Watts) discover thats some strange in the death of her niece. This fact is connected with a video-tape, she find that anyone that watch this video, die in seven days. The reporter and her "friend", try to dig the whole thing before that their time fade out. Some facts are reveled: the origin of that video, the explanation (more or less) of the deaths. However, there are some pieces in the story that remains untouched. Don't expect a typical happy end, in this movie. This simple basic plot, give a birth of a very good movie. The story is plenty of suspense and the terror is psychologic. Anyone that love terror and suspense will love this movie.

Signs is a good suspense movie, with good performances of the Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix. The basic plotline is Gibson a man that lost his wife and faith, one day found strange circles in his farm. His first clue, is some guys was responsible for this strange marks. However, the true is very different, aliens are responsible for this marks and prepare an invasion. This fact will be affect very deeply the life of Graham's family.

This movie is basically about fear and lost, the suspense is a little impaired, because the aliens are shown explicit and clear in the middle of the movie. In my opinion, there are some aspects in the movie that are little artificial (About aliens and water), but this is a minor flaw. My general impression, is that Signs is a good movie, with a good story a solid performances of Phoenix and Gibson.