This was one of the three movies I missed in 2008 so I'm glad to finally see it and bring myself closer to my goal, despite being a month late in doing so.
The films starts off pretty well. The cinematography is solid and I was hoping for a great film with the opening scene. And then it goes the cliched route of dreams and other lame stuff.
The film is about a girl whose mother stabs her when she is a kid and now her mother has been put away and she's starting a new life in a new school. Think of Mean Girls meets The Omen but it does neither of those films justice.
The acting is solid for this type of film but the plot is all over the place and the cliched characters become annoying. The bad girl with ripped clothes, the religious freak ect. The biggest problem is that not only does the film have everything ruined in the trailer, which is what I was figuring on anyway but the ending itself comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. It rushes through the final minutes and I was left really confused as to what had just happened.
Not worth the time. Horror fans will be let down by there being no horror, hauntings or demons. At least this is a better effort than 2007's October Horror film, don't remember the name but it had Paranormal Hour in it's title and featured really bad acting.
Entertainment Value - 1/5
Movie - 1/5
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Reader (Limited Release)
I remember seeing the trailer for The Reader a few months ago and couldn't wait until I could watch it. It's another of those Oscar rush films but it seems many critics dislike it because they don't get the "message" of the film. I won't go into details because they are spoilers.
The film involves a 15 year old boy who falls for a woman and they have sex but only when he reads to her before hand. It then jumps 5 years and he's in college. I don't want to go further because again it might spoil something.
This films easily falls into my top 5 of 2008. The acting from Kate Winslet is down right amazing. The look in her eyes in each scene is just amazing. Plus if you're a fan of nudity Kate shows her body for the first hour and if you're a gal the young lead prances about nude a lot as well.
I highly recommend this film. if it's playing near you then take the time to see it because it's worth it.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
The film involves a 15 year old boy who falls for a woman and they have sex but only when he reads to her before hand. It then jumps 5 years and he's in college. I don't want to go further because again it might spoil something.
This films easily falls into my top 5 of 2008. The acting from Kate Winslet is down right amazing. The look in her eyes in each scene is just amazing. Plus if you're a fan of nudity Kate shows her body for the first hour and if you're a gal the young lead prances about nude a lot as well.
I highly recommend this film. if it's playing near you then take the time to see it because it's worth it.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Happy-Go-Lucky (limited release)
Up for a Golden Globe and one a top 10 list I read I figured I just have to see this film. Plus it's British and I love their humor..
Yeah.. Except in this film. I found this to be a sad attempt at trying to be the next Amelie. A film that is just kind of cute and funny but it fails in that sense. I didn't find it that funny and the main girl is just so annoying and not ebcause of her being happy ever second of her life but she's a crude person. I think the dricing instructor sums it up perfectly in the end.
If you liked the film "Sideways" then you will most likely love this film. It has the same theme going for it. Not recommended either way...
Entertainment value - 1/5
Movie - 2/5
Yeah.. Except in this film. I found this to be a sad attempt at trying to be the next Amelie. A film that is just kind of cute and funny but it fails in that sense. I didn't find it that funny and the main girl is just so annoying and not ebcause of her being happy ever second of her life but she's a crude person. I think the dricing instructor sums it up perfectly in the end.
If you liked the film "Sideways" then you will most likely love this film. It has the same theme going for it. Not recommended either way...
Entertainment value - 1/5
Movie - 2/5
Friday, January 9, 2009
Repo: Genetic Opera (limited theatrical release)
I saw a trailer for this a few months back and had to see the movie. But then it never came out near me and I was a sad movie goer. The producers promised a wider release if the soundtrack sold a lot but alas it's hard for a soundtrack to sell if no one hears of it.
Either way I have to say this is my favorite musical of 2008. It's also in my top 10 of 2008 but don't get too excited because it does have a few flaws. The films biggest flaw is the music itself.
It's good, don't get me wrong but the music is a bit over powering and the lyrics can be lost easily. The entire cast does a great job. Head is great as Repo and it's really nice how he changes on the fly between the father figure and the Repo Man. Alexa Vega sings her heart out and she's good, who knew the Spy Kids girl could kick so much ass. And then we have Paris Hilton. yes, that PH. Not only wasn't she recognizable but she does a good job with her musical numbers.
The plot of the film is simple. A girl is dying, her father keeps her locked away and a mystery man says he has the cure. Her father is the Repo man, a person who takes back body parts that others have signed a contract for but have failed to hold their end of the bargain up. It's an interesting premise with a stereotypical theme going but zany characters thrown in.
It's not Rocky Horror but it's damn close to being that kind of cult film. I highly recommend this one for when it hits dvd in a few weeks and I'll be picking up the bluray for sure.
Movie - 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Either way I have to say this is my favorite musical of 2008. It's also in my top 10 of 2008 but don't get too excited because it does have a few flaws. The films biggest flaw is the music itself.
It's good, don't get me wrong but the music is a bit over powering and the lyrics can be lost easily. The entire cast does a great job. Head is great as Repo and it's really nice how he changes on the fly between the father figure and the Repo Man. Alexa Vega sings her heart out and she's good, who knew the Spy Kids girl could kick so much ass. And then we have Paris Hilton. yes, that PH. Not only wasn't she recognizable but she does a good job with her musical numbers.
The plot of the film is simple. A girl is dying, her father keeps her locked away and a mystery man says he has the cure. Her father is the Repo man, a person who takes back body parts that others have signed a contract for but have failed to hold their end of the bargain up. It's an interesting premise with a stereotypical theme going but zany characters thrown in.
It's not Rocky Horror but it's damn close to being that kind of cult film. I highly recommend this one for when it hits dvd in a few weeks and I'll be picking up the bluray for sure.
Movie - 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Defiance (limited release advance review)
The previews for this looked good and I like Craig and Schievber (whom every time I see in a movie flashback to hitting him with my camera). The film is nothing like I imagined. Maybe I thought it would be more of a war film, which is kind of is.
The cast is great despite the accents just seem a bit odd but everyone has the same thing going on so I'll just assume it's accurate. Either way the film works really well, tells an interesting story about 3 Jews who escape Poland and try to build a village in the forest.
It's another fine example of the studios holding out on the solid films and releasing crap for rest of the year. I'd recommend this one for a theatrical viewing, it may or may not be nominated for some Oscars, either way it's a solid film, one of a few from 2008.
Movie - 4.5 /5
Recommend: Yes
The cast is great despite the accents just seem a bit odd but everyone has the same thing going on so I'll just assume it's accurate. Either way the film works really well, tells an interesting story about 3 Jews who escape Poland and try to build a village in the forest.
It's another fine example of the studios holding out on the solid films and releasing crap for rest of the year. I'd recommend this one for a theatrical viewing, it may or may not be nominated for some Oscars, either way it's a solid film, one of a few from 2008.
Movie - 4.5 /5
Recommend: Yes
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Mum & Dad
What the fuck is this? This family "adopts" some kids and then they fuck them, torture them and all kinds of crazy shit.
It's not a good film. It's rather horrid with it's images. One scene almost made me ill where the dad gets it on with a bloody piece of meat. The sound of it was sickening.
The acting is fine enough and nothing like porn music and moaning as your soundtrack. It's a giant piece of shit film that's only purpose is to shock the viewer but it comes off as tasteless porn instead.
Movie - 1/5
Recommend: No
It's not a good film. It's rather horrid with it's images. One scene almost made me ill where the dad gets it on with a bloody piece of meat. The sound of it was sickening.
The acting is fine enough and nothing like porn music and moaning as your soundtrack. It's a giant piece of shit film that's only purpose is to shock the viewer but it comes off as tasteless porn instead.
Movie - 1/5
Recommend: No
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Wendy & Lucy (Limited Release)
Despite this being a new year this was a 2008 release so the review will be in this blog.
This was a film I never heard of. Honestly I passed it up all together. The cover looked ghetto and DTV but in reality it wasn't. I took notice when someone in Entertainment Weekly listed it in their top 10 best so I figured I'd have to give it a viewing.
What's amazing about this film is how solid it is all around. A woman is trying to get to Alaska to get a job. Her vehicle breaks down in Oregon, her dog goes missing and nothing is going right for her.
And yet she still goes on. She never gives up hope and the film some how makes this character feel real and all of those around her as well. I know we all don't do the best we can towards other people but some people do go above and beyond and this film shows that even the simplest act could go a long way for someone.
Michelle Williams gives a great performance as Wendy and it's easily one of her best but we all know she's a good actress otuside Dawson's Creek. I really do recommend this one, check it out. It would change your life, it won't thrill you with blood and guts but it's a simple story that just works.
Entertainment Value - 2/5
Movie - 4.5 /5
This was a film I never heard of. Honestly I passed it up all together. The cover looked ghetto and DTV but in reality it wasn't. I took notice when someone in Entertainment Weekly listed it in their top 10 best so I figured I'd have to give it a viewing.
What's amazing about this film is how solid it is all around. A woman is trying to get to Alaska to get a job. Her vehicle breaks down in Oregon, her dog goes missing and nothing is going right for her.
And yet she still goes on. She never gives up hope and the film some how makes this character feel real and all of those around her as well. I know we all don't do the best we can towards other people but some people do go above and beyond and this film shows that even the simplest act could go a long way for someone.
Michelle Williams gives a great performance as Wendy and it's easily one of her best but we all know she's a good actress otuside Dawson's Creek. I really do recommend this one, check it out. It would change your life, it won't thrill you with blood and guts but it's a simple story that just works.
Entertainment Value - 2/5
Movie - 4.5 /5
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