Viewed in
2010
Premise
A documentary about the 2003 World Air Guitar Championships, the first time U.S. contestants attended.
Loved
The rock music.
Liked
The goofy charm.
Disliked
The bad volume issues.
Thoughts
A nice, goofy, and rockin' documentary.
It had a good story, centered around C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque's rivalry as they attempted to be America's first world champion. On a side note, speaking as an arrogant American, how dare they hold such a competition without even inviting the country that invented rock and roll?
All the interviews were entertaining. The contestants were dorky and charming onstage and off the stage. My favorite moments were the uncut performance footage of Diddy and Turoque. Last but not least, there was awesome rock music going on throughout the film.
My biggest problem was volume of the film. During the whole time, the dialogue was too quiet and the music was too loud. Either I was blowing out my ears, or struggling to tweak the volume up and down.
I had fun getting exposed to this goofy subculture. This would be a fun film for families, if it was not for the explicit lyrics... and the naked air guitarist. That was disturbing.
Now if you'll excuse me, time for some "Rock Band" video gaming!
What I would change
Fixed the volume imbalance.
Showing posts with label 2006. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2006. Show all posts
Akeelah and the Bee
Viewed in
2007 (x2)
Premise
A black girl from South Central Los Angeles strives to be spelling bee champion.
Who should watch
Those who want something warm and fuzzy (but not cheesy).
Thoughts
This was a very likable movie. I could not help but cheer for Akeela thanks to Keke Palmer's wonderful performance. In the hands of an inferior filmmaker, the irresistible drama that is the Scripps National Spelling Bee might have been overdone. Thankfully, it was portrayed as is.
Given this was an urban-underdog story, there was some predictable moments, such as the hip hop music slowly transformed into inspirational soul. Also, I felt some of the revelations between Akeela and her coach was too convenient.
To make up for some of these flaws, a lot of the minor characters were not caricatures and very well acted. I really liked the twist at the climactic showdown. Overall, I felt very happy and inspired after watching this film.
On a personal note, I nearly was taken out of the movie from some randomness. There was some funny casting with Jack Bauer's Chinese torturer, Crab Man from 'My Name is Earl', and local Los Angeles news-hottie, Lauren Sanchez. Last trivial fact: this was the first film produced by Starbucks. Strangely, I did not see any product placement.
What I would change
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (I know, that was lame)
2007 (x2)
Premise
A black girl from South Central Los Angeles strives to be spelling bee champion.
Who should watch
Those who want something warm and fuzzy (but not cheesy).
Thoughts
This was a very likable movie. I could not help but cheer for Akeela thanks to Keke Palmer's wonderful performance. In the hands of an inferior filmmaker, the irresistible drama that is the Scripps National Spelling Bee might have been overdone. Thankfully, it was portrayed as is.
Given this was an urban-underdog story, there was some predictable moments, such as the hip hop music slowly transformed into inspirational soul. Also, I felt some of the revelations between Akeela and her coach was too convenient.
To make up for some of these flaws, a lot of the minor characters were not caricatures and very well acted. I really liked the twist at the climactic showdown. Overall, I felt very happy and inspired after watching this film.
On a personal note, I nearly was taken out of the movie from some randomness. There was some funny casting with Jack Bauer's Chinese torturer, Crab Man from 'My Name is Earl', and local Los Angeles news-hottie, Lauren Sanchez. Last trivial fact: this was the first film produced by Starbucks. Strangely, I did not see any product placement.
What I would change
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (I know, that was lame)
Babel
Viewed in
2006
Premise
One of those multi-lingual-multi-storyline stories that is started when a Moroccan farmer accidentally shoots an American tourist.
Who should watch
Alejandro González Iñárritu fans. Those who can't get enough multi-lingual-multi-storyline stories.
Thoughts
It's well-done, but it felt too much like 'Syriana' and 'Crash'. Unlike the previous two, the coincidences between the storylines were far-fetched. I also did not see why some of the storylines belonged.
My girlfriend does like it better than 'Syriana', because this movie was more about humans in tough situations than politics. I will agree that I felt more sympathy for these characters. The storyline worth watching is the Mexican maid who is suddenly on call to take care of her American boss's kids on the day of her son's wedding in Mexico.
What I would change
Left out the Japanese storyline.
2006
Premise
One of those multi-lingual-multi-storyline stories that is started when a Moroccan farmer accidentally shoots an American tourist.
Who should watch
Alejandro González Iñárritu fans. Those who can't get enough multi-lingual-multi-storyline stories.
Thoughts
It's well-done, but it felt too much like 'Syriana' and 'Crash'. Unlike the previous two, the coincidences between the storylines were far-fetched. I also did not see why some of the storylines belonged.
My girlfriend does like it better than 'Syriana', because this movie was more about humans in tough situations than politics. I will agree that I felt more sympathy for these characters. The storyline worth watching is the Mexican maid who is suddenly on call to take care of her American boss's kids on the day of her son's wedding in Mexico.
What I would change
Left out the Japanese storyline.
Borat
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Full-length feature based on the 'Da Ali G Show' character.
Who should watch
Fans of the show. People with a dark sense of humor. Anyone who wants to see something original.
Thoughts
This is the craziest and offensive film I've seen since the 'South Park' movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I rarely get offended, but even I squirmed sometimes. The reason is because real people were involved. Sometimes the filmmakers tried to make a fool out of an idiot, but that person's ignorance ended up being just too scary. What was also shocking was that even the audience was shouting some obscene stuff. I really hoped they were drunk or just kidding.
Major props to Sacha Baron Cohen for having the balls to have a fat, naked, hairy man sit on his face.
For any movie fan, this is a must see. It is the most unique film of the year, and should have been nominated for best picture.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
Full-length feature based on the 'Da Ali G Show' character.
Who should watch
Fans of the show. People with a dark sense of humor. Anyone who wants to see something original.
Thoughts
This is the craziest and offensive film I've seen since the 'South Park' movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I rarely get offended, but even I squirmed sometimes. The reason is because real people were involved. Sometimes the filmmakers tried to make a fool out of an idiot, but that person's ignorance ended up being just too scary. What was also shocking was that even the audience was shouting some obscene stuff. I really hoped they were drunk or just kidding.
Major props to Sacha Baron Cohen for having the balls to have a fat, naked, hairy man sit on his face.
For any movie fan, this is a must see. It is the most unique film of the year, and should have been nominated for best picture.
What I would change
Nothing.
Cars
Viewed in
2006
Premise
A hot shot race car finds himself stuck in a small, forgotten town.
Who should watch
Animation fans. Pixar fans. Kids.
Thoughts
I never thought cars could be sooo cute! It's not the greatest Pixar movie, but it's still a Pixar movie. It's got heart, humor and high quality CGI. That is enough reason to watch it.
I was pleasantly surprised by Larry the Cable Guy's performance. I was afraid he was just going to do his act and be obnoxious, but he made me forget about Larry and just see the character Mater as Mater. Again, stay for the credits, there were some hilarious bits.
I wonder if people will think this movie was racist? The car that behaved like a stereotypical barbershop-owning black woman was voiced by a black woman, the low-rider with a paint job HAPPENS to be voiced by Cheech Marin, and the stoner VW happens to be voiced by George Carlin. I'm surprised there wasn't a reckless-driving Honda voiced by Jackie Chan.
What I would change
Make the characters less stereotypical.
2006
Premise
A hot shot race car finds himself stuck in a small, forgotten town.
Who should watch
Animation fans. Pixar fans. Kids.
Thoughts
I never thought cars could be sooo cute! It's not the greatest Pixar movie, but it's still a Pixar movie. It's got heart, humor and high quality CGI. That is enough reason to watch it.
I was pleasantly surprised by Larry the Cable Guy's performance. I was afraid he was just going to do his act and be obnoxious, but he made me forget about Larry and just see the character Mater as Mater. Again, stay for the credits, there were some hilarious bits.
I wonder if people will think this movie was racist? The car that behaved like a stereotypical barbershop-owning black woman was voiced by a black woman, the low-rider with a paint job HAPPENS to be voiced by Cheech Marin, and the stoner VW happens to be voiced by George Carlin. I'm surprised there wasn't a reckless-driving Honda voiced by Jackie Chan.
What I would change
Make the characters less stereotypical.
Children of Men
Viewed in
2006
Premise
In the near future, mankind is infertile. In this chaotic world, a man finds himself in charge of rescuing a pregnant woman.
Who should watch
Everyone who enjoys great film.
Thoughts
This was the best film from 2006. I was sorely disappointed that it was not even nominated for Best Picture by the Oscars.
I do not even know where to begin. This film had everything: originality, thought, well-choreographed action, great acting, heart-wrenching emotion, detailed universe and humor all wound up with precision.
I love that they do not explain why things happened in the story. This is because the characters cannot explain why things are happening either, and it would have slowed the pace. The audience only understands the rules of this world and then we are thrown onto the roller-coaster ride.
The reason you must see this is for a certain battle scene. Halfway through this intense fight, you reach an 'oh shit' realization that all this is done in one take without the aide of computer graphics. All you can do is watching amazement. I hope the DVD will have a featurette on how did the filmmakers pull it off.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
In the near future, mankind is infertile. In this chaotic world, a man finds himself in charge of rescuing a pregnant woman.
Who should watch
Everyone who enjoys great film.
Thoughts
This was the best film from 2006. I was sorely disappointed that it was not even nominated for Best Picture by the Oscars.
I do not even know where to begin. This film had everything: originality, thought, well-choreographed action, great acting, heart-wrenching emotion, detailed universe and humor all wound up with precision.
I love that they do not explain why things happened in the story. This is because the characters cannot explain why things are happening either, and it would have slowed the pace. The audience only understands the rules of this world and then we are thrown onto the roller-coaster ride.
The reason you must see this is for a certain battle scene. Halfway through this intense fight, you reach an 'oh shit' realization that all this is done in one take without the aide of computer graphics. All you can do is watching amazement. I hope the DVD will have a featurette on how did the filmmakers pull it off.
What I would change
Nothing.
Clerks 2
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Our beloved store clerks have become... resturant clerks.
Who should watch
Kevin Smith fans.
Thoughts
Like most sequels, it had funnier individual scenes, but as a whole was never as good as the original film. It felt more like 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' than 'Clerks'. The original was not self conscious. In the sequel, I did not like that the characters knew where the cameras were.
Other than 'Chasing Amy', Kevin Smith movies were never good at drama. Whenever it switched to drama mode, the scenes felt forced and unrealistic.
One very good reason to watch is for Rosario Dawson and her bouncing boobs. I guess this is a guy movie, too.
What I would change
Not bothered with the drama subplots.
2006
Premise
Our beloved store clerks have become... resturant clerks.
Who should watch
Kevin Smith fans.
Thoughts
Like most sequels, it had funnier individual scenes, but as a whole was never as good as the original film. It felt more like 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' than 'Clerks'. The original was not self conscious. In the sequel, I did not like that the characters knew where the cameras were.
Other than 'Chasing Amy', Kevin Smith movies were never good at drama. Whenever it switched to drama mode, the scenes felt forced and unrealistic.
One very good reason to watch is for Rosario Dawson and her bouncing boobs. I guess this is a guy movie, too.
What I would change
Not bothered with the drama subplots.
Crank
Viewed in
2008
Premise
A hitman must keep his adrenaline up or he dies from a poison.
Who should watch
Jason Statham fans.
Thoughts
I expected a fast-paced, over-the-top, slick action flick. That was what I got.
What made this movie fun was the creative ways Jason Statham's bad-ass character had to keep his heart going before he could kill the bad guy, who looked like Cuba Gooding Jr.'s twin. Some was funny, some was cool, and some was just outrageous.
My main gripe would be that the movie lost its creativity, and had a pretty standard last act.
For what it was, I was a happy customer.
What I would change
I found the scene when a couple are having sex in public to be unrealistic. You expect me to believe that someone can do it in a crowd, and no one will record it on their cell phones? Come on, people!
2008
Premise
A hitman must keep his adrenaline up or he dies from a poison.
Who should watch
Jason Statham fans.
Thoughts
I expected a fast-paced, over-the-top, slick action flick. That was what I got.
What made this movie fun was the creative ways Jason Statham's bad-ass character had to keep his heart going before he could kill the bad guy, who looked like Cuba Gooding Jr.'s twin. Some was funny, some was cool, and some was just outrageous.
My main gripe would be that the movie lost its creativity, and had a pretty standard last act.
For what it was, I was a happy customer.
What I would change
I found the scene when a couple are having sex in public to be unrealistic. You expect me to believe that someone can do it in a crowd, and no one will record it on their cell phones? Come on, people!
Da Vinci Code, The
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Movie version of the popular novel.
Who should watch
Fans of the book or Tom Hanks. Anyone in the mood for something with some brains.
Thoughts
The good news was that it did not butcher the novel. The bad news was that in doing so, the moviemakers created a rather slow thriller. To a person who did not read the book, the movie was entertaining with interesting thoughts and twists. To a person who already read the book, all the good parts felt boring. It was as if the movimakers were on autopilot.
What I would change
Quickened the pace to add to the urgency. And fixed Tom Hanks' hair.
2006
Premise
Movie version of the popular novel.
Who should watch
Fans of the book or Tom Hanks. Anyone in the mood for something with some brains.
Thoughts
The good news was that it did not butcher the novel. The bad news was that in doing so, the moviemakers created a rather slow thriller. To a person who did not read the book, the movie was entertaining with interesting thoughts and twists. To a person who already read the book, all the good parts felt boring. It was as if the movimakers were on autopilot.
What I would change
Quickened the pace to add to the urgency. And fixed Tom Hanks' hair.
Departed, The
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Remake of 'Infernal Affairs', but taking place in Boston.
Who should watch
Fans of Jack, Leo, Matt, Marky Mark, the list goes on and on. Scorsese fans. Anyone who liked 'Infernal Affiars'.
Thoughts
Very exciting and entertaining film. Believe it or not, Jack Nicholson is upstaged by Mark Wahlberg's bad-ass, ball-busting character. Like most double-agent movies, it was confusing at times. But I think that was the point, because everyone has a breaking point before fact and fiction blur. While there was a lot of suspense, the film made room for lots of great character scenes without losing too much momentum.
The story for 'Infernal Affairs' was so good 'The Departed' knew not to mess with the premise, plot twists or the ending. Unfortunately, this means depending on the order you saw the films, the second one will never be as satisfying as the first you saw. The main difference, other than the setting, was that 'The Departed' made room for some very funny minor characters and dialogue, while 'Infernal Affairs' kept it lean and mean.
Personally, I slightly liked the original better. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun anticipating certain scenes them and watching how Martin Scorsese interpreted them.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
Remake of 'Infernal Affairs', but taking place in Boston.
Who should watch
Fans of Jack, Leo, Matt, Marky Mark, the list goes on and on. Scorsese fans. Anyone who liked 'Infernal Affiars'.
Thoughts
Very exciting and entertaining film. Believe it or not, Jack Nicholson is upstaged by Mark Wahlberg's bad-ass, ball-busting character. Like most double-agent movies, it was confusing at times. But I think that was the point, because everyone has a breaking point before fact and fiction blur. While there was a lot of suspense, the film made room for lots of great character scenes without losing too much momentum.
The story for 'Infernal Affairs' was so good 'The Departed' knew not to mess with the premise, plot twists or the ending. Unfortunately, this means depending on the order you saw the films, the second one will never be as satisfying as the first you saw. The main difference, other than the setting, was that 'The Departed' made room for some very funny minor characters and dialogue, while 'Infernal Affairs' kept it lean and mean.
Personally, I slightly liked the original better. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun anticipating certain scenes them and watching how Martin Scorsese interpreted them.
What I would change
Nothing.
DOA: Dead or Alive
Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A action movie based on the video game franchise.
Loved
So bad it's good.
Thoughts
As guilty pleasure, I was shocked to find out how much fun I had.
It scored very well on the Unintentionally Funny Scale, thanks to gratuitous objectification of females (for a PG-13 movie), Kevin Nash pretending to be Hulk Hogan, laughable dialog, nonsensical plot, unabashed stereotypes, annoying music, and Devon Aoki's awesome un-acting.
I enjoyed Jaime Pressly, even if she was just an uber-violent version of Joy from My Name is Earl. Eric Roberts seemed like the only one in one the joke, hamming it up a la Sharktopus. Also, kudos to the filmmakers for upping the campiness by even including a volleyball scene, as a shout out to the "Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball" video game.
DOA: Dead or Alive was an excellent drinking game flick, on par with Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Check your brain at the door.
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A action movie based on the video game franchise.
Loved
So bad it's good.
Thoughts
As guilty pleasure, I was shocked to find out how much fun I had.
It scored very well on the Unintentionally Funny Scale, thanks to gratuitous objectification of females (for a PG-13 movie), Kevin Nash pretending to be Hulk Hogan, laughable dialog, nonsensical plot, unabashed stereotypes, annoying music, and Devon Aoki's awesome un-acting.
I enjoyed Jaime Pressly, even if she was just an uber-violent version of Joy from My Name is Earl. Eric Roberts seemed like the only one in one the joke, hamming it up a la Sharktopus. Also, kudos to the filmmakers for upping the campiness by even including a volleyball scene, as a shout out to the "Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball" video game.
DOA: Dead or Alive was an excellent drinking game flick, on par with Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Check your brain at the door.
Dreamgirls
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Based on the musical.
Who should watch
Musical fans. People who enjoy a good film full of music sprinkled with American history.
Thoughts
Well-produced movie. I particularly liked the interesting observations about Blacks in America from 1950-1980's, especially in music. The Jackson 5 parody of ‘The Campbell Connection' was hilarious. Eddie Murphy deserved the best supporting actor. His acting and character gave a glimpse of what the late, great James Brown (who passed away the same year) once was.
But the reason you have to watch this is Jennifer Hudson, who stole the show. Her singing was just powerful, soulful, and emotional. I was nearly in tears at times. When her solo finished, the audience in the movie theater actually stood up and cheered.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
Based on the musical.
Who should watch
Musical fans. People who enjoy a good film full of music sprinkled with American history.
Thoughts
Well-produced movie. I particularly liked the interesting observations about Blacks in America from 1950-1980's, especially in music. The Jackson 5 parody of ‘The Campbell Connection' was hilarious. Eddie Murphy deserved the best supporting actor. His acting and character gave a glimpse of what the late, great James Brown (who passed away the same year) once was.
But the reason you have to watch this is Jennifer Hudson, who stole the show. Her singing was just powerful, soulful, and emotional. I was nearly in tears at times. When her solo finished, the audience in the movie theater actually stood up and cheered.
What I would change
Nothing.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Viewed in
2010
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A documentary about criminal behavior by top Enron executives that led to their (and the company's) demise.
Liked
The story-telling.
Disliked
The on-the-nose music choices.
Thoughts
A very well-done documentary.
The film makers did a good job of letting the facts, footage and interviews drive the story in a very fair and clear method. An inferior director would have made it manipulative, exploiting the pain of the innocent employees and investors. Instead, it was detailed yet efficient. A chronological breakdown from humble beginnings, to conniving strategies, to "inmates running the asylum" nightmare.
Citing numerous sources and evidence, the film showed the terror of greed, power, and deregulation at its worst. Watching this in 2010, the themes of unwatched corruption, loophole maneuvering, wanton gambling, and flat out lies still run rampant in current business/political scandals.
Obviously, I learned a lot. As a Californian, I never knew that Enron were responsible for the state's rolling blackouts in the late 1990's. The extent of Enron's actions were much larger than I realized, from California's economy, to government business policies, to the fall of Enron's partners. There was also some interesting evidence revealing the company's ties to both President Bush's, though thankfully this was not a smear campaign against them.
My biggest issue was the music choices during transitions. It was distracting that it kept choosing pop songs that "perfectly" fit what they were showing.
In this end, this was a well-told and detailed account about how these people took advantage of the system and political climate to become all too powerful business entities, and ruin so many lives. Just like how too much regulation is bad, Enron's tale was a powerful illustration of the problems of deregulation gone wild.
What I would change
Taken out the part that claims Enron's action led to Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming California governor. They made a strong case for it, but it was still a bit of a stretch.
2010
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A documentary about criminal behavior by top Enron executives that led to their (and the company's) demise.
Liked
The story-telling.
Disliked
The on-the-nose music choices.
Thoughts
A very well-done documentary.
The film makers did a good job of letting the facts, footage and interviews drive the story in a very fair and clear method. An inferior director would have made it manipulative, exploiting the pain of the innocent employees and investors. Instead, it was detailed yet efficient. A chronological breakdown from humble beginnings, to conniving strategies, to "inmates running the asylum" nightmare.
Citing numerous sources and evidence, the film showed the terror of greed, power, and deregulation at its worst. Watching this in 2010, the themes of unwatched corruption, loophole maneuvering, wanton gambling, and flat out lies still run rampant in current business/political scandals.
Obviously, I learned a lot. As a Californian, I never knew that Enron were responsible for the state's rolling blackouts in the late 1990's. The extent of Enron's actions were much larger than I realized, from California's economy, to government business policies, to the fall of Enron's partners. There was also some interesting evidence revealing the company's ties to both President Bush's, though thankfully this was not a smear campaign against them.
My biggest issue was the music choices during transitions. It was distracting that it kept choosing pop songs that "perfectly" fit what they were showing.
In this end, this was a well-told and detailed account about how these people took advantage of the system and political climate to become all too powerful business entities, and ruin so many lives. Just like how too much regulation is bad, Enron's tale was a powerful illustration of the problems of deregulation gone wild.
What I would change
Taken out the part that claims Enron's action led to Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming California governor. They made a strong case for it, but it was still a bit of a stretch.
Farce of the Penguins
Viewed in
2007
Premise
Somewhat of a parody of 'March of the Penguins', in which a host of celebrities voice over penguin stock footage of what those penguins are thinking. Hint: it's not G-rated.
Who should watch
Bob Saget fans? People who want something silly.
Thoughts
For movies like this and 'Kung Pow Enter the Fist', hearing about the premise was funnier than watching the whole thing.
There were some hilarious scenes, like when the penguins pooped and the sea lions scratched their balls. These scenes were helped by the voice cameos. Gilbert Gottfried stole the show. Lastly, I loved the fact that Bob Saget got cameos from the entire cast of 'Full House', almost.
But eventually the gimmick wears out. If it was shorter, it might have been a great stoner movie.
What I would change
Not bothered with a plot, but add more random, silly tangents. Or shortened the movie.
2007
Premise
Somewhat of a parody of 'March of the Penguins', in which a host of celebrities voice over penguin stock footage of what those penguins are thinking. Hint: it's not G-rated.
Who should watch
Bob Saget fans? People who want something silly.
Thoughts
For movies like this and 'Kung Pow Enter the Fist', hearing about the premise was funnier than watching the whole thing.
There were some hilarious scenes, like when the penguins pooped and the sea lions scratched their balls. These scenes were helped by the voice cameos. Gilbert Gottfried stole the show. Lastly, I loved the fact that Bob Saget got cameos from the entire cast of 'Full House', almost.
But eventually the gimmick wears out. If it was shorter, it might have been a great stoner movie.
What I would change
Not bothered with a plot, but add more random, silly tangents. Or shortened the movie.
Fearless
Viewed in
2006
Premise
Jet Li's allegedly final martial arts movie.
Who should watch
Jet Li fans.
Thoughts
Not bad for a finale. He got to go out at the peak of his physical shape. His character actually went through a lot of emotions and Jet Li did a decent acting performance. There were some good fights, but I just wish the movie as a whole had a bigger 'umph' to it.
Unless you are hardcore and paying Jet Li respects, you can afford to skip this movie. Instead, find and watch 'Once Upon a Time in China' (his masterpiece) and 'Hero'.
What I would change
Make a more emotional, original, epic climactic ending for one of the best martial art actors of our time.
2006
Premise
Jet Li's allegedly final martial arts movie.
Who should watch
Jet Li fans.
Thoughts
Not bad for a finale. He got to go out at the peak of his physical shape. His character actually went through a lot of emotions and Jet Li did a decent acting performance. There were some good fights, but I just wish the movie as a whole had a bigger 'umph' to it.
Unless you are hardcore and paying Jet Li respects, you can afford to skip this movie. Instead, find and watch 'Once Upon a Time in China' (his masterpiece) and 'Hero'.
What I would change
Make a more emotional, original, epic climactic ending for one of the best martial art actors of our time.
Flags of Our Fathers
Viewed in
2006
Premise
The story of the soldiers who put up the second flag on Iwo Jima that is immortalized in picture.
Who should watch
Anyone with a strong stomach who enjoys great film. Anyone curious about American history.
Thoughts
A sobering and thoughtful film about war and the politics of the war. There is something frustrating or sad seeing young, poor kids fighting for their lives juxstaposed with fat, rich people avoiding the horrors of war.
My girlfriend thinks the characters were not fleshed out enough to be likeable, but I felt differently. Though I will admit it is not as character-intensive as other Clint Eastwood films. Nevertheless, it is a story worth telling and a story worth watching.
The best performance comes from Adam Beach as Ira Hayes, whose story was the saddest. The only annoying thing while watching was that I had the song 'Ballad of Ira Hayes' stuck in my head throughout the entire film.
What I would change
Maybe cut down on the gore.
2006
Premise
The story of the soldiers who put up the second flag on Iwo Jima that is immortalized in picture.
Who should watch
Anyone with a strong stomach who enjoys great film. Anyone curious about American history.
Thoughts
A sobering and thoughtful film about war and the politics of the war. There is something frustrating or sad seeing young, poor kids fighting for their lives juxstaposed with fat, rich people avoiding the horrors of war.
My girlfriend thinks the characters were not fleshed out enough to be likeable, but I felt differently. Though I will admit it is not as character-intensive as other Clint Eastwood films. Nevertheless, it is a story worth telling and a story worth watching.
The best performance comes from Adam Beach as Ira Hayes, whose story was the saddest. The only annoying thing while watching was that I had the song 'Ballad of Ira Hayes' stuck in my head throughout the entire film.
What I would change
Maybe cut down on the gore.
Goal! The Dream Begins
Viewed in
2010
Formats
DVD
Premise
A Mexican-American footballer gets a chance to play in the English Premier League.
Liked
The cheesy charm.
Thoughts
Being an American, there are few futbol-oriented movies that I know of, so having a Mexican-American in England was an interesting twist to the underdog sports movie formula. I liked how it gave Santiago some character, touched on many aspects of the EPL world, and the game action scenes were pretty realistic. The only exception was when Santiago's teammate was shouting that he was open, when he was like two feet away from him.
It consisted of mostly unknowns, except for the dad from Billy Elliot, and Nicolas Cage's brother from Face/Off. Overall, everyone did fine in selling the mushy moments, especially lead Kuno Becker, with his pump-fake-fist-pump-and-yell. Also, there were assorted EPL cameos, especially one pre-MLS David Beckham, which was funny because one of Santiago's teammates was an overpaid diva with frosty tips.
One interesting section was that the beginning act mostly comprised of Mexican dialogue, but I did not see any English subtitles. I had the DVD subtitles on, and they were in Mexican for those lines, so it was a fun Spanish learning experience. Between all the Mexican and English accents, subtitles did help. Like a typical American, I really dug the way they talked with flair.
Like most movies of this kind, you pretty much know the obstacles (injuries, dream-crushing parent, bullying teammates) and the results, but they were done well enough to tug at my heart or make me cheer at the right moments. My biggest issue was the Santiago's implausible rise to stardom, as every episodic obstacle was neatly resolved, and how improbably patient his team was in a cutthroat premier league.
For a budding futbol fan like me, it had enough interesting twists to make it stand out in the deluge of cliched sports movies.
What I would change
More realistic path for Santiago, less cliches.
2010
Formats
DVD
Premise
A Mexican-American footballer gets a chance to play in the English Premier League.
Liked
The cheesy charm.
Thoughts
Being an American, there are few futbol-oriented movies that I know of, so having a Mexican-American in England was an interesting twist to the underdog sports movie formula. I liked how it gave Santiago some character, touched on many aspects of the EPL world, and the game action scenes were pretty realistic. The only exception was when Santiago's teammate was shouting that he was open, when he was like two feet away from him.
It consisted of mostly unknowns, except for the dad from Billy Elliot, and Nicolas Cage's brother from Face/Off. Overall, everyone did fine in selling the mushy moments, especially lead Kuno Becker, with his pump-fake-fist-pump-and-yell. Also, there were assorted EPL cameos, especially one pre-MLS David Beckham, which was funny because one of Santiago's teammates was an overpaid diva with frosty tips.
One interesting section was that the beginning act mostly comprised of Mexican dialogue, but I did not see any English subtitles. I had the DVD subtitles on, and they were in Mexican for those lines, so it was a fun Spanish learning experience. Between all the Mexican and English accents, subtitles did help. Like a typical American, I really dug the way they talked with flair.
Like most movies of this kind, you pretty much know the obstacles (injuries, dream-crushing parent, bullying teammates) and the results, but they were done well enough to tug at my heart or make me cheer at the right moments. My biggest issue was the Santiago's implausible rise to stardom, as every episodic obstacle was neatly resolved, and how improbably patient his team was in a cutthroat premier league.
For a budding futbol fan like me, it had enough interesting twists to make it stand out in the deluge of cliched sports movies.
What I would change
More realistic path for Santiago, less cliches.
Good Shepard, The
Viewed in
2006
Premise
A story about the birth of the CIA.
Who should watch
History buffs.
Thoughts
It was too long with too many storylines. In other words, it lacked focus. There was probably a good story about a work-obsessed father and his ‘I need to prove to Dad’ son in there, but it got cluttered with characters and cameos.
What I would change
Cut the script in half. Make two films with lean, mean stories: one about the birth of the CIA, the other about the family dynamics.
2006
Premise
A story about the birth of the CIA.
Who should watch
History buffs.
Thoughts
It was too long with too many storylines. In other words, it lacked focus. There was probably a good story about a work-obsessed father and his ‘I need to prove to Dad’ son in there, but it got cluttered with characters and cameos.
What I would change
Cut the script in half. Make two films with lean, mean stories: one about the birth of the CIA, the other about the family dynamics.
Happy Feet
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A tribe of singing penguins outcasts an offspring who only wants to dance.
Who should watch
Little kids with nothing better to do.
Thoughts
It was not horrible, but with so many excellent computer-animated family films by Pixar, it would be hard to recommend this.
I appreciated the hard work by the animators to create a realistic Antarctica and its inhabitants. There were numerous wonderfully-rendered lengthy, uninterrupted shots. I also liked Robin Williams' voice work, he was not overwhelmingly annoying and his energy picked the movie up in the middle act.
The biggest flaw was the story. It made no sense (even for a kid movie) and was all over the map, trying to be cute, environmentally-concscious, pop-culture, be yourself morality tale, and musical, all at the same time.
There were plenty of other issues that bugged me. First of all, why singing and dancing penguins? The movie makers have already dated this movie, as if they were riding the coattails of 'March of the Penguins'. Penguins have no legs, so it was very hard to appreciate Savion Glover's motion-captured dancing. Also, we're talking about singing and dancing penguins, what was the purpose of animating realistic animals that do not behave naturally?
In terms of writing, giving characters different accents felt like taking the easy way out to differentiate between characters, and given the stereotypical behaviors given to those characters, it almost felt racist. Lastly, I found the song selection questionable. A lot of songs had questionable lyrics/themes that were replaced ('Let's Talk About Eggs' instead of 'Let's Talk About Sex'), but as a parent, I would feel a bit uncomfortable with my child singing such songs when I know the true meanings. Also, how would I explain to my kids when they learn the real lyrics?
I'm probably this movie more attention than it deserves, but it frustrated me that these animators worked so hard, only to have the movie fall flat because of bad movie making decisions.
What I would change
Animated the animals as a bit more cartoony. Ditched the disturbing environmental penguins-versus-man subplot entirely. Hire someone to write real songs.
2007
Premise
A tribe of singing penguins outcasts an offspring who only wants to dance.
Who should watch
Little kids with nothing better to do.
Thoughts
It was not horrible, but with so many excellent computer-animated family films by Pixar, it would be hard to recommend this.
I appreciated the hard work by the animators to create a realistic Antarctica and its inhabitants. There were numerous wonderfully-rendered lengthy, uninterrupted shots. I also liked Robin Williams' voice work, he was not overwhelmingly annoying and his energy picked the movie up in the middle act.
The biggest flaw was the story. It made no sense (even for a kid movie) and was all over the map, trying to be cute, environmentally-concscious, pop-culture, be yourself morality tale, and musical, all at the same time.
There were plenty of other issues that bugged me. First of all, why singing and dancing penguins? The movie makers have already dated this movie, as if they were riding the coattails of 'March of the Penguins'. Penguins have no legs, so it was very hard to appreciate Savion Glover's motion-captured dancing. Also, we're talking about singing and dancing penguins, what was the purpose of animating realistic animals that do not behave naturally?
In terms of writing, giving characters different accents felt like taking the easy way out to differentiate between characters, and given the stereotypical behaviors given to those characters, it almost felt racist. Lastly, I found the song selection questionable. A lot of songs had questionable lyrics/themes that were replaced ('Let's Talk About Eggs' instead of 'Let's Talk About Sex'), but as a parent, I would feel a bit uncomfortable with my child singing such songs when I know the true meanings. Also, how would I explain to my kids when they learn the real lyrics?
I'm probably this movie more attention than it deserves, but it frustrated me that these animators worked so hard, only to have the movie fall flat because of bad movie making decisions.
What I would change
Animated the animals as a bit more cartoony. Ditched the disturbing environmental penguins-versus-man subplot entirely. Hire someone to write real songs.
Idlewild
Viewed in
2007
Premise
An Outkast musical that takes place during U.S. Prohibition era.
Who should watch
Outkast fans.
Thoughts
As an Outkast fan, I loved the music. It had music from Speakerboxxx/Love Below album and some new songs. The songs were cool, but they we no match for Outkast's music videos. The other reason to watch was the casting. Like 'Do the Right Thing', the movie had quality black actors new and old.
My main problem was the flashy style. Some parts of it were cool, like when Big Boi has his conversations with the computer graphic generated rooster on his flask. But musicals are about dancing and singing. Save the music video tricks for music videos. I think they did that to disguise the plot. Obviously, I did not expect a great plot, but can we get a drama with blacks that does not involve guns?
What I would change
Made it less flashier and a more original plot.
2007
Premise
An Outkast musical that takes place during U.S. Prohibition era.
Who should watch
Outkast fans.
Thoughts
As an Outkast fan, I loved the music. It had music from Speakerboxxx/Love Below album and some new songs. The songs were cool, but they we no match for Outkast's music videos. The other reason to watch was the casting. Like 'Do the Right Thing', the movie had quality black actors new and old.
My main problem was the flashy style. Some parts of it were cool, like when Big Boi has his conversations with the computer graphic generated rooster on his flask. But musicals are about dancing and singing. Save the music video tricks for music videos. I think they did that to disguise the plot. Obviously, I did not expect a great plot, but can we get a drama with blacks that does not involve guns?
What I would change
Made it less flashier and a more original plot.
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