Viewed in
1995, 1996, 1999
Premise
Based on the harrowing flight of Apollo 13.
Who should watch
Those interested in one of the most inspiring parts of American space history.
Thoughts
Overall, this was a very enjoyable film with a sense of authenticity.
The aspect that stands out the most for me was the amazing story. It was a triumphant tale that teaches us that with teamwork we, as humans, can overcome any obstacle.
Obviously, it is easy to ruin a good story. However, it is impossible to ruin it when Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, James Horner, and great special effects are involved.
Even if you are unfamiliar with American space history, I would still recommend this excellent film for its realistic tension and genuine inspiration.
What I would change
Nothing.
Showing posts with label 1995. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1995. Show all posts
Babe
Viewed in
1996 (2), 2012
Formats
VHS, HDTV
Premise
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.
Loved
Sweet story, excellent visual effects, James Cromwell.
Liked
The rest of the movie.
Thoughts
Still a timeless classic. Obviously, it's hard to say no to cute farm animals, but every facit of the movie was flawless.
I loved the story. Every character was fleshed out, the story was well-structured and the journey was engrossing. The threat of death on the Hoggett estate was neither sugar-coated nor suffocating, making the stakes high while still being appropriate for kids. In an environment where movies are pressured to have slam-bang climaxes, Babe's ending was brilliantly defiant and triumphant.
As a character, the pig was adorable and earnest, someone you could believe and root for. Rest of the animal characters were charming and unexpected complexity. James Cromwell deserved his nomination as the taciturn farmer who thinks outside the box. Mrs. Hoggett was very likable too.
Re-watching it 15 years later, I was very surprised how well the special effects held up. While it was easier for me to distinguish puppets from computer graphics, it was so well shot/rotoscoped that, even in HD, I was never taken out of the moment.
I loved this film when I was young. I'm extremely relieved and joyful that it effortlessly passed the test of time.
1996 (2), 2012
Formats
VHS, HDTV
Premise
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.
Loved
Sweet story, excellent visual effects, James Cromwell.
Liked
The rest of the movie.
Thoughts
Still a timeless classic. Obviously, it's hard to say no to cute farm animals, but every facit of the movie was flawless.
I loved the story. Every character was fleshed out, the story was well-structured and the journey was engrossing. The threat of death on the Hoggett estate was neither sugar-coated nor suffocating, making the stakes high while still being appropriate for kids. In an environment where movies are pressured to have slam-bang climaxes, Babe's ending was brilliantly defiant and triumphant.
As a character, the pig was adorable and earnest, someone you could believe and root for. Rest of the animal characters were charming and unexpected complexity. James Cromwell deserved his nomination as the taciturn farmer who thinks outside the box. Mrs. Hoggett was very likable too.
Re-watching it 15 years later, I was very surprised how well the special effects held up. While it was easier for me to distinguish puppets from computer graphics, it was so well shot/rotoscoped that, even in HD, I was never taken out of the moment.
I loved this film when I was young. I'm extremely relieved and joyful that it effortlessly passed the test of time.
Bad Boys
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A cop-buddy-action flick with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Who should watch
Will Smith fans. People who like Michael Bay movies.
Thoughts
A fun, well-done summer movie. The action scenes were pretty good considering this was made in the pre-John Woo and pre-'Matrix' era.
I liked how they kept the non-action scenes entertaining by mashing nearly every formula into the plot: buddy-action, mistaken-identity, bachelor-turned-family-man, etc. These scenes were carried by the humorous chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. You will not be bored.
What I would change
Nothing.
2007
Premise
A cop-buddy-action flick with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Who should watch
Will Smith fans. People who like Michael Bay movies.
Thoughts
A fun, well-done summer movie. The action scenes were pretty good considering this was made in the pre-John Woo and pre-'Matrix' era.
I liked how they kept the non-action scenes entertaining by mashing nearly every formula into the plot: buddy-action, mistaken-identity, bachelor-turned-family-man, etc. These scenes were carried by the humorous chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. You will not be bored.
What I would change
Nothing.
Batman Forever
Viewed in
1995
Formats
Movie theater
Premise
Joel Schumacher and Val Kilmer take over as new director and Batman in the third entry of the franchise, in which the Caped Crusader and new sidekick Robin (Chris O'Donnell) takes on Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones).
Thoughts
Don't remember much except for the drastic change in tone. Schumacher employed his grandiose and operatic visuals, bordering between cheeky and ludicrous. Carrey was fine as the nutty Riddler, but Jones' Two-Face was underwhelming.
What I would change
No idea.
1995
Formats
Movie theater
Premise
Joel Schumacher and Val Kilmer take over as new director and Batman in the third entry of the franchise, in which the Caped Crusader and new sidekick Robin (Chris O'Donnell) takes on Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones).
Thoughts
Don't remember much except for the drastic change in tone. Schumacher employed his grandiose and operatic visuals, bordering between cheeky and ludicrous. Carrey was fine as the nutty Riddler, but Jones' Two-Face was underwhelming.
What I would change
No idea.
Before Sunrise
Viewed in
2005
Format
DVD.
Premise
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy play two strangers who meet on a train in Europe, and strike up a conversation.
Loved
Premise, interesting conversations.
Thoughts
It's been a while, so my memory's a bit hazy.
This is a great film, but be warned that there is very little plot. They meet and they talk the rest of the way.
What made it great was the chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Every conversation was intelligent and realistic, which made it surprisingly entertaining.
For me, I had already watched Before Sunset, and I do not think that diminished the experience for either film. I loved the little parallel scenes that just add that extra emotional payoff.
2005
Format
DVD.
Premise
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy play two strangers who meet on a train in Europe, and strike up a conversation.
Loved
Premise, interesting conversations.
Thoughts
It's been a while, so my memory's a bit hazy.
This is a great film, but be warned that there is very little plot. They meet and they talk the rest of the way.
What made it great was the chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Every conversation was intelligent and realistic, which made it surprisingly entertaining.
For me, I had already watched Before Sunset, and I do not think that diminished the experience for either film. I loved the little parallel scenes that just add that extra emotional payoff.
Casper
Viewed in
1996 (x2), 1997(x2), 1998, 1999, 2008
Premise
Based on the cuddly cartoon ghost.
Who should watch
Christina Ricci or Bill Pullman fans.
Thoughts
I liked it more than it probably deserved. I found it cute and likeable. Then again, I'm a pretty big Ricci and Pullman fan.
The special effects were quite good, considering when this was made. Also, I liked some of the ghost-human comedy gags. I was partial to the Fatso character, because he was voiced by Brad Garrett.
Like most subpar movies, it was the story that failed. It was predictable and the bad guys were unnecessary. One other thing that bugged me was the great music by the great James Horner. The problem was that it was too good for this movie. The melody and themes created by Horner were just beautiful and heart-wrenching. It belonged in a Oscar-contending drama, not a family-friendly ghost romp.
What I would change
Ditched the Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle characters and subplots.
1996 (x2), 1997(x2), 1998, 1999, 2008
Premise
Based on the cuddly cartoon ghost.
Who should watch
Christina Ricci or Bill Pullman fans.
Thoughts
I liked it more than it probably deserved. I found it cute and likeable. Then again, I'm a pretty big Ricci and Pullman fan.
The special effects were quite good, considering when this was made. Also, I liked some of the ghost-human comedy gags. I was partial to the Fatso character, because he was voiced by Brad Garrett.
Like most subpar movies, it was the story that failed. It was predictable and the bad guys were unnecessary. One other thing that bugged me was the great music by the great James Horner. The problem was that it was too good for this movie. The melody and themes created by Horner were just beautiful and heart-wrenching. It belonged in a Oscar-contending drama, not a family-friendly ghost romp.
What I would change
Ditched the Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle characters and subplots.
Dead Man
Viewed in
2001
Formats
DVD
Premise
Johnny Depp stars in this Jim Jarmusch movie about a hitman who prepares to be sent to the afterlife.
Liked
Johnny Depp.
Hated
The boring pace.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, but I recall being extremely bored by all the rambling dialogue and sloth-like camera movement. Depp was cool and weird. But I do not think I can handle another Jarmusch movie ever again.
What I would change
NA
2001
Formats
DVD
Premise
Johnny Depp stars in this Jim Jarmusch movie about a hitman who prepares to be sent to the afterlife.
Liked
Johnny Depp.
Hated
The boring pace.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, but I recall being extremely bored by all the rambling dialogue and sloth-like camera movement. Depp was cool and weird. But I do not think I can handle another Jarmusch movie ever again.
What I would change
NA
Dead Man Walking
Viewed in
2006
Premise
A nun decides to confront and save (spiritually) a death row convict.
Who should watch
Those who love great acting. Anyone with an opinion about the death penalty.
Thoughts
Great acting, especially by Sean Penn. Tim Robbins' directing was simple and unnoticeable, which allows the story and acting to bloom.
Two interesting casting: An undiscovered Jack Black plays a dramatic small role and was skinny! And the great Clancy Brown plays yet another prison guard after 'Shawshank Redemption'.
The film taught me that the death penalty and violent crime is more complex than I thought. A lot of parents divorce after a child's death, which gives new meaning to the phrase 'til death do we part'.
Here's a random question, as a death row convict, they supply you a cleric based on your religion. Do they have spiritual advisors for non-religious convicts?
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
A nun decides to confront and save (spiritually) a death row convict.
Who should watch
Those who love great acting. Anyone with an opinion about the death penalty.
Thoughts
Great acting, especially by Sean Penn. Tim Robbins' directing was simple and unnoticeable, which allows the story and acting to bloom.
Two interesting casting: An undiscovered Jack Black plays a dramatic small role and was skinny! And the great Clancy Brown plays yet another prison guard after 'Shawshank Redemption'.
The film taught me that the death penalty and violent crime is more complex than I thought. A lot of parents divorce after a child's death, which gives new meaning to the phrase 'til death do we part'.
Here's a random question, as a death row convict, they supply you a cleric based on your religion. Do they have spiritual advisors for non-religious convicts?
What I would change
Nothing.
Die Hard With a Vengeance
Viewed in
2004
Premise
John McClane and an unwilling citizen must stop a terrorist by solving all of his booby-trapped riddles all across New York.
Who should watch
Bruce Willis fans.
Thoughts
Once again, nothing beats the original, but for a sequel, this was still good.
It goes without saying that Bruce Willis kicked butt. One major change was that he had a sidekick. Although I prefer John McClane as a solitary hero, Samuel L. Jackson was a great choice. The black-white race jokes have been done before, but the writing was very funny and both know how to deliver them to great comedic effect.
What I liked was that each movie in the franchise tried to do something different with new settings and styles. In addition to the sidekick, a lot of the plot was riddle-solving. For those familiar with the original film, there were some nice references.
Because of Willis, Jackson, and the riddle-solving gimmick, this was a fun above-average action flick.
What I would change
No Reginald Vel Johnson cameo?
2004
Premise
John McClane and an unwilling citizen must stop a terrorist by solving all of his booby-trapped riddles all across New York.
Who should watch
Bruce Willis fans.
Thoughts
Once again, nothing beats the original, but for a sequel, this was still good.
It goes without saying that Bruce Willis kicked butt. One major change was that he had a sidekick. Although I prefer John McClane as a solitary hero, Samuel L. Jackson was a great choice. The black-white race jokes have been done before, but the writing was very funny and both know how to deliver them to great comedic effect.
What I liked was that each movie in the franchise tried to do something different with new settings and styles. In addition to the sidekick, a lot of the plot was riddle-solving. For those familiar with the original film, there were some nice references.
Because of Willis, Jackson, and the riddle-solving gimmick, this was a fun above-average action flick.
What I would change
No Reginald Vel Johnson cameo?
Empire Records
Viewed in
2002
Formats
DVD
Premise
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, except Liv Tyler was hot and the rest of the characters tried to be quirky with little success.
What I would change
No idea.
2002
Formats
DVD
Premise
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, except Liv Tyler was hot and the rest of the characters tried to be quirky with little success.
What I would change
No idea.
Get Shorty
Viewed in
2000
Premise
A mobster decides to become a movie producer.
Who should watch
Those who like satire about Hollywood. Fans of the cast.
Thoughts
I could not stop laughing at all the biting satire about Hollywood. If you liked 'Bowfinger' or 'Adaptation', you should enjoy this film.
I have no idea if the average audience will enjoy this or not.
What I would change
Nothing.
2000
Premise
A mobster decides to become a movie producer.
Who should watch
Those who like satire about Hollywood. Fans of the cast.
Thoughts
I could not stop laughing at all the biting satire about Hollywood. If you liked 'Bowfinger' or 'Adaptation', you should enjoy this film.
I have no idea if the average audience will enjoy this or not.
What I would change
Nothing.
GoldenEye
Viewed in
2014
Formats
HDTV
Premise
The Pierce Brosnan era starts off with James Bond teaming up with the lone survivor of a destroyed Russian research center to stop the hijacking of a nuclear space weapon by a fellow agent (Sean Bean) believed to be dead.
Loved
Ridiculous tank scene, unintentional nostalgia for the video game.
Liked
Cool cast.
Disliked
Confusing plot.
Thoughts
I grew up on Pierce Brosnan as 007. His debut was a promising start to one of my favorite eras of the franchise.
For some reason, I never saw this until now, nearly two decades after the GoldenEye Nintendo 64 game was a huge part of my teenage life. So it was an odd deja vu sensation, as I've pretty much seen most of the movie sets and characters, heard that unforgettable metallic-themed score, for countless hours trying to headshot my high school buddies. And frankly the whole movie gave me a smirk throughout from that experience.
As for my favorite part in the movie? The tank scene, of course. Naturally, movie physics was hilarious, crushing cars and tearing up city blocks, but I was always more of a fan of cheeky over-the-top James Bond. Oddly enough, the rest of the story itself was pretty grounded. Clearly the film makers and Brosnan were feeling themselves out, not realizing their destiny for campy fun in later films.
Brosnan, looking like a deadringer for Timothy Dalton, was solid in his first go-around. He was handsome, cool under pressure, occasionally landing his one-liners. As an X-Men movie fan, I was shocked to see Famke Janssen's outrageous acting chops as sex-crazed Xenia Onatopp. The new era ushered in first time appearances for Dame Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Samantha Bond, and Joe Don Baker, which was cool. I also enjoyed Alan Cumming as a sleazy software developer, and Minnie Driver as a tone-deaf lounge singer. Last but not least, shout out to Sean Bean for being a badass, and having another badass death.
The biggest flaw was the plot. I had no bloody clue what was going on in the story or which character was double-crossing who. Thankfully, the cast and tank scene made up for some of this. I was surprised that the internet/satellite technology in the movie was not horribly outdated. Also, kudos for throwing in a female software developer who wasn't caricature.
GoldenEye was one of my favorite games of all time, and seeing this now was a hoot. While I loved the Brosnan era of the franchise, you could feel that not everything was clicking just yet. It got off to a promising start, thanks to a memorable tank scene and fun cast, and that's more than you can ask for.
2014
Formats
HDTV
Premise
The Pierce Brosnan era starts off with James Bond teaming up with the lone survivor of a destroyed Russian research center to stop the hijacking of a nuclear space weapon by a fellow agent (Sean Bean) believed to be dead.
Loved
Ridiculous tank scene, unintentional nostalgia for the video game.
Liked
Cool cast.
Disliked
Confusing plot.
Thoughts
I grew up on Pierce Brosnan as 007. His debut was a promising start to one of my favorite eras of the franchise.
For some reason, I never saw this until now, nearly two decades after the GoldenEye Nintendo 64 game was a huge part of my teenage life. So it was an odd deja vu sensation, as I've pretty much seen most of the movie sets and characters, heard that unforgettable metallic-themed score, for countless hours trying to headshot my high school buddies. And frankly the whole movie gave me a smirk throughout from that experience.
As for my favorite part in the movie? The tank scene, of course. Naturally, movie physics was hilarious, crushing cars and tearing up city blocks, but I was always more of a fan of cheeky over-the-top James Bond. Oddly enough, the rest of the story itself was pretty grounded. Clearly the film makers and Brosnan were feeling themselves out, not realizing their destiny for campy fun in later films.
Brosnan, looking like a deadringer for Timothy Dalton, was solid in his first go-around. He was handsome, cool under pressure, occasionally landing his one-liners. As an X-Men movie fan, I was shocked to see Famke Janssen's outrageous acting chops as sex-crazed Xenia Onatopp. The new era ushered in first time appearances for Dame Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Samantha Bond, and Joe Don Baker, which was cool. I also enjoyed Alan Cumming as a sleazy software developer, and Minnie Driver as a tone-deaf lounge singer. Last but not least, shout out to Sean Bean for being a badass, and having another badass death.
The biggest flaw was the plot. I had no bloody clue what was going on in the story or which character was double-crossing who. Thankfully, the cast and tank scene made up for some of this. I was surprised that the internet/satellite technology in the movie was not horribly outdated. Also, kudos for throwing in a female software developer who wasn't caricature.
GoldenEye was one of my favorite games of all time, and seeing this now was a hoot. While I loved the Brosnan era of the franchise, you could feel that not everything was clicking just yet. It got off to a promising start, thanks to a memorable tank scene and fun cast, and that's more than you can ask for.
Heat
Viewed in
2010
Premise
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, director Michael Mann, and ridiculously deep cast star in a Los Angeles crime epic as sprawling as the city itself.
Loved
De Niro and Pacino coffee scene. The shootout scene.
Liked
The cast.
Disliked
The three hour long length. The score.
Thoughts
A very well executed and well acted crime drama.
Granted I probably know some of the smaller actors than most, my jaw flat out dropped to the ground when the beginning credits rolled, listing all the well-known actors. Granted, some of them are a bigger deal in 2010 than 15 years ago, such as Natalie Portman, the uncredited Jeremy Piven and Danny Trejo. As a 24 fan, it was exciting to see three future alumni playing minor parts. There was even some unintentional comedy in the casting of Tone Loc as an informant. Just go to the imdb page to see the absurd roster.
Now, the main reason to watch was the De Niro and Pacino duo still in their prime (though Pacino was close to becoming a caricature of himself). This was arguably the last meaningful film either of these great actors have made. I loved the cat-and-mouse maneuverings between Pacino's detective and De Niro's master thief. Seeing them face-to-face in the famous coffee shop scene was worth the price of admission. I imagine it must have been quite a moment to see that in the theaters back in '95: everyone frozen in their seats, eyes glued to the screen, afraid to breath too loud, just by the sheer magnitude of their presence as they played off of each other.
As if that was not cool enough, director Mann shows his goods with the memorable shootout in the streets. Thankfully this was shot before the hand-held camera craze. Look how natural, exciting, and comprehensible the film makers made this chaotic, two-front assault, gunfire gauntlet. Another reason for its greatness was that it was grounded in realism (which is distinctly different from "realistic").
Another thing I really liked was the writing. The story had no cardboard cutouts, I could differentiate between the 20 players, and many character had their own arcs to follow. Some of the dialogue was excellent, almost poetic. I loved the heartbreaking moment when Pacino's character's lover realizes that their relationship is just not going to work: "You sift through the detritus...". That's my word of the day!
I think living in the Los Angeles area most of my life gave me more reason to enjoy this film. There were a lot of recognizable locations (two near my former workplaces), and numerous shots of the vastness of the city. At times this film felt like a more modern version of L.A. Confidential, which was also a crime drama in which the city was more than just the backdrop.
Watching it now, I found it amusing that the mood of the film seemed to be modern, yet dated. Some of the characters were still sporting 1980's hairstyles of clothes. The cell phones used were laughable. Maybe it was intentional that some of the characters were "living in the '80's". Only Michael Mann knows, but it felt like he wanted to make a post-80's movie, but could not help but follow '80's film sensibilities.
Another interesting note was that the characters were mostly white, with a few blacks. Had this film been made post-2000, I would presume the racial diversity would be more in tune with Crash, which was more reflective of southern Californian culture. I'm not saying it was intentionally racist, but just another sign that it was made with 1980's vibe to it.
My biggest problem with this film was the length. I loved every little character and moment, but the whole thing was just too long. For example, Dennis Haysbert rocks, and I enjoyed his very small subplot, but he had no impact on the main storyline between Pacino and De Niro's characters. His character was only needed in one scene instead of five. Cut out some of the fat, and this would have been a fricking masterpiece.
The score bugged me a bit too. I love the Kronos Quartet, but I think a traditional score would be better. This film already had a lot of stuff going on, and the score did not need to be a character. There was this really annoying scene at the beginning when De Niro's character becomes suspicious of a nosy Amy Brenneman, so the music starts pumping like a heartbeat. Too obvious, man.
I highly recommend this film for De Niro and Pacino, their cat-and-mouse chases, and the mind-blowing shootout scene.
What I would change
Shortened it to under two and a half hours. Used a more traditional score.
2010
Premise
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, director Michael Mann, and ridiculously deep cast star in a Los Angeles crime epic as sprawling as the city itself.
Loved
De Niro and Pacino coffee scene. The shootout scene.
Liked
The cast.
Disliked
The three hour long length. The score.
Thoughts
A very well executed and well acted crime drama.
Granted I probably know some of the smaller actors than most, my jaw flat out dropped to the ground when the beginning credits rolled, listing all the well-known actors. Granted, some of them are a bigger deal in 2010 than 15 years ago, such as Natalie Portman, the uncredited Jeremy Piven and Danny Trejo. As a 24 fan, it was exciting to see three future alumni playing minor parts. There was even some unintentional comedy in the casting of Tone Loc as an informant. Just go to the imdb page to see the absurd roster.
Now, the main reason to watch was the De Niro and Pacino duo still in their prime (though Pacino was close to becoming a caricature of himself). This was arguably the last meaningful film either of these great actors have made. I loved the cat-and-mouse maneuverings between Pacino's detective and De Niro's master thief. Seeing them face-to-face in the famous coffee shop scene was worth the price of admission. I imagine it must have been quite a moment to see that in the theaters back in '95: everyone frozen in their seats, eyes glued to the screen, afraid to breath too loud, just by the sheer magnitude of their presence as they played off of each other.
As if that was not cool enough, director Mann shows his goods with the memorable shootout in the streets. Thankfully this was shot before the hand-held camera craze. Look how natural, exciting, and comprehensible the film makers made this chaotic, two-front assault, gunfire gauntlet. Another reason for its greatness was that it was grounded in realism (which is distinctly different from "realistic").
Another thing I really liked was the writing. The story had no cardboard cutouts, I could differentiate between the 20 players, and many character had their own arcs to follow. Some of the dialogue was excellent, almost poetic. I loved the heartbreaking moment when Pacino's character's lover realizes that their relationship is just not going to work: "You sift through the detritus...". That's my word of the day!
I think living in the Los Angeles area most of my life gave me more reason to enjoy this film. There were a lot of recognizable locations (two near my former workplaces), and numerous shots of the vastness of the city. At times this film felt like a more modern version of L.A. Confidential, which was also a crime drama in which the city was more than just the backdrop.
Watching it now, I found it amusing that the mood of the film seemed to be modern, yet dated. Some of the characters were still sporting 1980's hairstyles of clothes. The cell phones used were laughable. Maybe it was intentional that some of the characters were "living in the '80's". Only Michael Mann knows, but it felt like he wanted to make a post-80's movie, but could not help but follow '80's film sensibilities.
Another interesting note was that the characters were mostly white, with a few blacks. Had this film been made post-2000, I would presume the racial diversity would be more in tune with Crash, which was more reflective of southern Californian culture. I'm not saying it was intentionally racist, but just another sign that it was made with 1980's vibe to it.
My biggest problem with this film was the length. I loved every little character and moment, but the whole thing was just too long. For example, Dennis Haysbert rocks, and I enjoyed his very small subplot, but he had no impact on the main storyline between Pacino and De Niro's characters. His character was only needed in one scene instead of five. Cut out some of the fat, and this would have been a fricking masterpiece.
The score bugged me a bit too. I love the Kronos Quartet, but I think a traditional score would be better. This film already had a lot of stuff going on, and the score did not need to be a character. There was this really annoying scene at the beginning when De Niro's character becomes suspicious of a nosy Amy Brenneman, so the music starts pumping like a heartbeat. Too obvious, man.
I highly recommend this film for De Niro and Pacino, their cat-and-mouse chases, and the mind-blowing shootout scene.
What I would change
Shortened it to under two and a half hours. Used a more traditional score.
Mallrats
Viewed in
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Both dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends seek refuge in the local mall.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, except it was foul-mouthed and dirty as expected. There were some funny moments, like the Magic Eye guy and Jay and Silent Bob running amok.
What I would change
No idea.
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Both dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends seek refuge in the local mall.
Thoughts
Don't remember much, except it was foul-mouthed and dirty as expected. There were some funny moments, like the Magic Eye guy and Jay and Silent Bob running amok.
What I would change
No idea.
Mighty Aphrodite
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A Woody Allen movie in which the father of his adopted son finds out his real mother is a hooker.
Who should watch
Woody Allen fans.
Thoughts
This was weird and funny. The premise was funny enough, but then Woody Allen had to add another layer of difficulty/comedy/weirdness by including a Greek play chorus narrating part of the story.
Woody Allen fans should be pleased. There were tons of hilarious zings, rants, monologues, exchanges about love and the pursuit of happiness in New York with jazzy swing music playing the background. Thankfully, the Greek chorus was more than a gimmick and there were some funny moments when the fourth wall was taken out.
Mira Sorvino was hot and acted well, but I do not think she deserved best supporting actress. The rest of the acting was great. I thought Helena Bonham Carter was most excellent. I could not help but giggle every time I saw Peter Weller, aka Robocop. And if you look closely, you could spot an undiscovered Paul Giamatti.
What I would change
Nothing.
2007
Premise
A Woody Allen movie in which the father of his adopted son finds out his real mother is a hooker.
Who should watch
Woody Allen fans.
Thoughts
This was weird and funny. The premise was funny enough, but then Woody Allen had to add another layer of difficulty/comedy/weirdness by including a Greek play chorus narrating part of the story.
Woody Allen fans should be pleased. There were tons of hilarious zings, rants, monologues, exchanges about love and the pursuit of happiness in New York with jazzy swing music playing the background. Thankfully, the Greek chorus was more than a gimmick and there were some funny moments when the fourth wall was taken out.
Mira Sorvino was hot and acted well, but I do not think she deserved best supporting actress. The rest of the acting was great. I thought Helena Bonham Carter was most excellent. I could not help but giggle every time I saw Peter Weller, aka Robocop. And if you look closely, you could spot an undiscovered Paul Giamatti.
What I would change
Nothing.
Mortal Kombat
Viewed in
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A movie based on the video game.
Loved
The theme song, the unintentional comedy.
Liked
How it felt like the video game.
Disliked
The lack of fatalities.
Thoughts
It was as laughably bad as the Street Fighter movie.
With mannequin acting, pretentious dialogue smothered in cheese, nonsensical plots/rules, and amateurish CGI, this scored very high on the Unintional Comedy Scale. Watching the Highlander rasp his way through the movie as as Rayden was very amusing. The only other cast member I recognized was Pete Sampras' wife.
Compared to the other fighting video game movie, this one had better set design, the plot was actually about combat, and the music was perfect. Having George Clinton as composer was a curious choice, but he and the compilation of artists (including Buckethead) fit very well, with loud guitars and thumping techno. And man, that theme song was as good as it was fifteen years ago.
My biggest complaint was that they should have gone for rated R violence. While some of famous moves and catchphrases were in the movie, one of the biggest draws of the game was the "graphic" fatality finishing moves. Sadly they were devoid here.
While I was never a big fan of the "Mortal Kombat" game, this movie was pretty close to the look and feel of it. For brainless action, this fit the bill with unintentional comedy and one catchy theme song.
What I would change
Nothing.
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A movie based on the video game.
Loved
The theme song, the unintentional comedy.
Liked
How it felt like the video game.
Disliked
The lack of fatalities.
Thoughts
It was as laughably bad as the Street Fighter movie.
With mannequin acting, pretentious dialogue smothered in cheese, nonsensical plots/rules, and amateurish CGI, this scored very high on the Unintional Comedy Scale. Watching the Highlander rasp his way through the movie as as Rayden was very amusing. The only other cast member I recognized was Pete Sampras' wife.
Compared to the other fighting video game movie, this one had better set design, the plot was actually about combat, and the music was perfect. Having George Clinton as composer was a curious choice, but he and the compilation of artists (including Buckethead) fit very well, with loud guitars and thumping techno. And man, that theme song was as good as it was fifteen years ago.
My biggest complaint was that they should have gone for rated R violence. While some of famous moves and catchphrases were in the movie, one of the biggest draws of the game was the "graphic" fatality finishing moves. Sadly they were devoid here.
While I was never a big fan of the "Mortal Kombat" game, this movie was pretty close to the look and feel of it. For brainless action, this fit the bill with unintentional comedy and one catchy theme song.
What I would change
Nothing.
Nick of Time
Viewed in
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Johnny Depp stars as an accountant forced to assassinate a governor before Christopher Walken kills his daughter. Events occur in real time.
Loved
Walken's speech.
Disliked
Laughably incredulous story.
Thoughts
Oof, what an entertaining mess. Where do I begin?
The premise and execution was preposterous, and it didn't help that 24 made the story-telling gimmick worked way better. Here was a story about how everyone was in on the conspiracy, with Walken able to ninja Depp every step of the way. Yet, with all their resources and string-pulling, they plucked a random stranger to do the evil deed without checking if the fall guy is even capable of shooting a gun or isn't mentally insane. Also, despite the bad guys' abilities and training, they were easily tripped up by Depp, a shoeshiner (Charles Dutton), and the hotel staff.
As if the writing deficiencies weren't laughable enough, the technical deficiencies were equally bad, including obvious editing continuity issues and cameras that didn't dolly smoothly.
The best part was, of course, Walken, sporting a fantastic caterpillar of a mustache. His meandering, bizarre monolog about killing his best friend was almost worth the price of admission. Depp was fine, given the material, playing things straight. Lastly, what's up with then-L.A. mayor Tom Bradley taking time out of his duties to make a cameo? Good thing state governors don't pull that kind of crap. Oh wait.
Nick of Time was almost bad enough to be good, with unintentionally funny writing/execution and Walken's intentionally funny Walkening.
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Johnny Depp stars as an accountant forced to assassinate a governor before Christopher Walken kills his daughter. Events occur in real time.
Loved
Walken's speech.
Disliked
Laughably incredulous story.
Thoughts
Oof, what an entertaining mess. Where do I begin?
The premise and execution was preposterous, and it didn't help that 24 made the story-telling gimmick worked way better. Here was a story about how everyone was in on the conspiracy, with Walken able to ninja Depp every step of the way. Yet, with all their resources and string-pulling, they plucked a random stranger to do the evil deed without checking if the fall guy is even capable of shooting a gun or isn't mentally insane. Also, despite the bad guys' abilities and training, they were easily tripped up by Depp, a shoeshiner (Charles Dutton), and the hotel staff.
As if the writing deficiencies weren't laughable enough, the technical deficiencies were equally bad, including obvious editing continuity issues and cameras that didn't dolly smoothly.
The best part was, of course, Walken, sporting a fantastic caterpillar of a mustache. His meandering, bizarre monolog about killing his best friend was almost worth the price of admission. Depp was fine, given the material, playing things straight. Lastly, what's up with then-L.A. mayor Tom Bradley taking time out of his duties to make a cameo? Good thing state governors don't pull that kind of crap. Oh wait.
Nick of Time was almost bad enough to be good, with unintentionally funny writing/execution and Walken's intentionally funny Walkening.
Outbreak
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A monkey carrying a human-killing virus breaks loose in America.
Who should watch
Dustin Hoffman fans.
Thoughts
It was am okay thriller. There were some nice fear-conjuring scenes. The story was basically plausible. I also liked the deep cast, my favorite being the sarcastic Kevin Spacey.
However, lots of things distracted me from the movie. How could a tropical African monkey survive in the wild Northern Californian temperate forest? Also, even if an antiserum was discovered for the virus, wouldn't it be too late for those infected? After all, the virus liquified internal organs.
Another flaw was its predictability. For example, the two leads were divorced at the beginning of the movie. Another was the U.S. government covering things up. This led the movie to a climax that had nothing to do with monkeys nor viruses.
What I would change
The movie could have been more realistic.
2007
Premise
A monkey carrying a human-killing virus breaks loose in America.
Who should watch
Dustin Hoffman fans.
Thoughts
It was am okay thriller. There were some nice fear-conjuring scenes. The story was basically plausible. I also liked the deep cast, my favorite being the sarcastic Kevin Spacey.
However, lots of things distracted me from the movie. How could a tropical African monkey survive in the wild Northern Californian temperate forest? Also, even if an antiserum was discovered for the virus, wouldn't it be too late for those infected? After all, the virus liquified internal organs.
Another flaw was its predictability. For example, the two leads were divorced at the beginning of the movie. Another was the U.S. government covering things up. This led the movie to a climax that had nothing to do with monkeys nor viruses.
What I would change
The movie could have been more realistic.
Pocahontas
Viewed in
1995
Premise
A Disney-fied Pocahontas movie.
Who should watch
Kids?
Thoughts
It had one memorable song and Meeko the raccoon was super-cute. I think the problem was the premise. Since it was based on a real person who happened to belong to an oppressed minority in the United States, the moviemakers were probably pressured to make everything politically and historically correct.
Thus, it felt like the movie was playing it safe, which made it boring. It also lacked a sense of magic or fantasy, as other Disney movies were based on fairy tales and such.
What I would change
No idea.
1995
Premise
A Disney-fied Pocahontas movie.
Who should watch
Kids?
Thoughts
It had one memorable song and Meeko the raccoon was super-cute. I think the problem was the premise. Since it was based on a real person who happened to belong to an oppressed minority in the United States, the moviemakers were probably pressured to make everything politically and historically correct.
Thus, it felt like the movie was playing it safe, which made it boring. It also lacked a sense of magic or fantasy, as other Disney movies were based on fairy tales and such.
What I would change
No idea.
Sabrina
Viewed in
1996
Formats
VHS
Premise
Harrison Ford stars in the Billy Wilder remake.
Thoughts
I don't remember much, except it was worse than the original, and I discovered that the great Harrison Ford cannot do romantic comedies.
What I would change
Not make this movie.
1996
Formats
VHS
Premise
Harrison Ford stars in the Billy Wilder remake.
Thoughts
I don't remember much, except it was worse than the original, and I discovered that the great Harrison Ford cannot do romantic comedies.
What I would change
Not make this movie.
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