Lord of the Movies: The Return of the Review Thread

[Reply #280 on:]

Shrek 2

You can't really compare this movie to the 1st, it was completely different. It was aimed at a more adult audience, with lots of clever little gags + film references. I agree that the plot wasn't up to much, but none the less I enjoyed it.

A

To all you lucky people who've seen Spiderman 2, damn you all, you lucky sods! I have to wait another 2 weeks   

A rather irate TOTPD

[Reply #281 on:]

Shaun of the Dead

Finaly got around to seeing this. Funny in it's own way but not laugh out loud funny IMO, it's more a black comedy in the vein of Dog Soldiers. It was still an enjoyable movie and had it's moments. What struck me about 'Shaun of the Dead' was that it didn't turn out to be one of those mindlessly pathetic 'spoofs' we are treated to every so often. The film references are more cleverly worked in and the characters are more well-developed.

Show spoiler

Honestly, I nearly cried when Dylan Moran, Lucy Davies and Nick Frost's characters were killed!

Too add to that, it's not just lots of zombie killing- there are moments of pathos as Shaun realises he has to kill those people close to him. Like I said, this is smarter than the average spoof.

Plus, it's great to see some of the less known Brit actors on screen- Simon Pegg, Dylan Moran, Lucy Davies, etc.

Show spoiler

And the 'Yvonne's Zombie Hunters' cameo scene was amusing too 

All in all, an enjoyable movie. Not a masterpiece but does anyone expect it to be?

B+

[Reply #282 on:]

Spiderman 2

Pretty good. Not one of those movies that I'll think about for days, but had some neat stuff, made me giggle a few times, and Bruce Campbell made an appearance.   

Otto was a good but of fun visually, and quite sympathetic (I thoroughly enjoyed his last line), but I the part I most enjoyed was

Show spoiler

Harry at the end... following Daddies footsteps? Well, he did in the Comic... plus, the whole set up and execution for that scene was cool.

Pretty good, I'm not too big on superhero movies, but this one didn't have any hugely annoying elements.

B

[Reply #283 on:]

Shrek 2

Awesome sequal, and a really fun movie. Favorite scene; the dinnertable scene, everything about it ruled! Also, I loved Donkeys "Pops!", genius! There were so many jokes in this movie, most were cloolsome and funny. Pity about the crappy throw-away jokes that made into here, but were not present in the first one. Jokes such as Justin Timberlake, Prince Charles, and Micheal Jackson (which has already been done to death). These cheap non-fairytale jokes at current pop-culture will only hurt the film in years to come, and aren't exactly funny now. Aside from that, Puss in Boots ruled, although  there were maybe slightly too many new characters, but not enough to make it sucky. I slightly prefer the original still, but this ranks up there with some of the best sequals ever made...

A-

[Reply #284 on:]

The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

This one's a charming first effort. There are some nice scenes with good performances, very impressive if you consider the age of the actors. The animation was a good way to show us the place where these guys would go to escape reality. It also was a realistic portrayal of adolescence but I still think that overall it was not a great movie. I did like the story bu the script was a bit of a mess.

B+

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

I don't think I have enough knowledge of the subject matter to review these film properly but I'll just say that it's very good, with an excellent performance by John Cameron Mitchell in the title role (he also wrote it and directed it) and great music.

A-

[Reply #285 on:]

I STILL haven't seen either of those, despite having known about them for a long time[Altar Boys was in the local Film Festival a while back, Hedwig was performed live at the Parliament House and I've wanted to see the film ever since].  A trip to Blockbuster is LONG overdue.

[Reply #286 on:]

 

Originally posted by EvilLunch:
Altar Boys was in the local Film Festival a while back

Aww, I wish we would have film festivals here. I have to get everytging from TV or the mediocre rental place.

[Reply #287 on:]

Shrek 2

Another sequel that passes the level of the original. I really loved the first film dont get me wrong but this just beat it on just about every level. My particular favourite parts were the little LOTR and Spider-man gags at the start, where Shrek, Donkey and Puss in boots broke into the potion factory and everything after the line "Do you still know the muffin man?" I mean Mongo was excellent. To add to this there was an excellent soundtrack not to mention the amazing graphics.
I really enjoyed the film and what else is left to say except roll on Shrek 3!

9/10

[Reply #288 on:]

I saw Lost in Translation yesterday.  What a pile of indie schmindie, up it's own ass bullshit.  Don't see.

[Reply #289 on:]

Shrek 2 - I really enjoyed this film. It had amazing animation, and a good steady plot too  It gets an A!

[Reply #290 on:]

Anchorman
Mysoginistic, misguided and vulgar.
However, it had moments of sheer, bizarre brilliance that shocked me.
Steve Carell is pretty damn funny, too.
All in all, a C.. See it when it gets to the cheap theatre.

[Reply #291 on:]

Mean Girls
I laughed more times than I did during Shrek 2, not that that says much. I liked it, and I liked the teenage clevage. Yes, it was a chick flick, so what. I like chick flicks. B+

[Reply #292 on:]

 

Originally posted by Jamesbondcja:
Shrek 2

Another sequel that passes the level of the original. I really loved the first film dont get me wrong but this just beat it on just about every level. My particular favourite parts were the little LOTR and Spider-man gags at the start, where Shrek, Donkey and Puss in boots broke into the potion factory and everything after the line "Do you still know the muffin man?" I mean Mongo was excellent. To add to this there was an excellent soundtrack not to mention the amazing graphics.
I really enjoyed the film and what else is left to say except roll on Shrek 3!

9/10

I personally thought that the various tired, parodies of various recent popular films were the worst part of Shrek 2, the spider-man and LOTR 'gags' are incredibly overdone and seemed like an attempt to dazzle the audience and get as many cheap laughs as possible within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Although the rest of the film was excellent, i didn't think it was quite as good as the first.

[Reply #293 on:]

 

Originally posted by EvilLunch:
Anchorman
Mysoginistic

Wait, a movie about a mysoginistic man with mysoginistic friends in a mysoginistic setting in a mysoginistic era was mysoginistic?  Heavens to Betsy, what is this world coming to?

[Reply #294 on:]

I calls em like I sees em!
WHALE BIOLOGIST!

Anyway yeah. Actually I suppose I should have said.. "Satirically so."

[Reply #295 on:]

Some classic movies I've seen this week:

Chinatown

This is a really exhausting movie in the sense that there are no wasted scenes in it, every scene is important to understand the plot so you won't have time to even turn your head because you may miss an important line or a visual discovery. The performances are excellent, especially Jack who gives here one of his best performances here. The script is expertly constructed and the direction is simple but effective. A classic, and rightly so.

A

Fargo

This one has a very simple cinematography almost all of the time, very simple direction, but the scenes in the snow are just breathtakingly beautiful. It is so white that sometimes you can't differentiate the sky from the ground. Also , the night scenes are purposely poorly lit so you can't distinguish anything from the horizon, just blackness enveloping the action. The perfomances are great:Buscemi, Stomare, Macy and McDormand were born to play these roles and the last two were, deservedly so, nominated for Oscars(McDorman won). There are also some funny parts despite all the violence and crimes that occur in the movie. Still, this is not my favorite Coens´ film. That would be The Man Who Wasn't There.

A

[Reply #296 on:]

 

Originally posted by Mr.Nintendo:
 I personally thought that the various tired, parodies of various recent popular films were the worst part of Shrek 2, the spider-man and LOTR 'gags' are incredibly overdone and seemed like an attempt to dazzle the audience and get as many cheap laughs as possible within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Although the rest of the film was excellent, i didn't think it was quite as good as the first.

Show spoiler

I love the end bit where Donkey and Puss in Boots where singing Livin La Vida Loca  and Puss did that dance/water splashes on his body  scene from the movie flashdance

[Reply #297 on:]

Around the World in 80 Days

Not bad but not great either. Steve Coogan is in full hamming up mode, to great effect. I haven't seen the old film, or read the book so I can't compare this film to either. Jackie Chan was good as Passaportout, his stunts are of the usual high standard.
    As for the cameos, there is everyone from Arnie to Owen Wilson to Kathy Bates to John Cleese. Most of whom are well placed in the movie.

I'd give it a B-, good entertainment.

[Reply #298 on:]

I definitely want to go and see Around the World in 80 Days and Walking Tall.

[Reply #299 on:]

I dunno, Juliet.. Said pop culture references just embarassed me. e.e; But though the film is hit and miss, It has a 95% Kill rate.
EDIT: Juliet: Referring to Shrek 2.

[Reply #300 on:]

which film?

[Reply #301 on:]

The Wizard of Oz (1939)
There's nothing like a classic film. This s one of the best I've ever seen. Last time I
saw this I was 8. The sets, the music, the tecnicolor! Even thou it is fo little kids, your never to old to see a talking scarecrow, a man made from tin, a coward of a lion and a girl antng to go home.

Grade: A+

[Reply #302 on:]

 

Originally posted by Coilette:
To all you lucky people who've seen Spiderman 2, damn you all, you lucky sods! I have to wait another 2 weeks

That would be me 

 

Originally posted by SlackJawedMoron:
Spiderman 2

Pretty good. Not one of those movies that I'll think about for days, but had some neat stuff, made me giggle a few times, and Bruce Campbell made an appearance.   

Otto was a good bit of fun visually, and quite sympathetic (I thoroughly enjoyed his last line), but I the part I most enjoyed was

Show spoiler

Harry at the end... following Daddies footsteps? Well, he did in the Comic... plus, the whole set up and execution for that scene was cool.

B

Where was Bruce Campbell....? I didn't fall sleep during the movie, just slow I guess....

Also this is the third time today I've quoted you SJM....whassup with dat....?

Spiderman 2 rocked.... also a wierd sequel in that I found it very emotional....I was nearly crying in parts I was....

[Reply #303 on:]

Bruce Campbell was the rude door man at the theatre, who wouldn't let Parker insied (Bruce also told him that his shoelace was untied...    )

And after hours of strenuous thought, in-depth soul searching, and staring contests with a wooden elephant (it sits on my desk) I've come to the inescapable conclusion that you keep quoting me because I'm awesome.

[Reply #304 on:]

Harry Potter III

I finally got off my lazy butt, left the house and saw this movie with my kid brother (age 8). He was scared by the dementors, but I think in general he was less afraid of this movie than of the other two. He hasn't read the books because he hates reading. I thought this movie was the best so far. Why was Hogwarts all different though? Maybe the layout changes like the staircases. The cgi still kinda sucked, like the werewolf and when they are flying on Buckbeak. Did anyone else think of "The Neverending Story" there? Just me?

[Reply #305 on:]

Continuing on Harry Potter the Third

I agree, VF,that scene was very similar to Neverending Story, and I don't recall Harry actually enjoy flying Buckbeak.

Oh, and the CGI guys are more brilliant than I ever could imagine. Look closly at Buckbeak in his first five minutes of introduction. He is so POOPING...I was the sole person laughing in a rather crowded theatre.
Glad as hell they got rid of Chris Columbus. Cuaron has so much more acclaim as a director and did the scenery good (although whoever wrote the screenplay decided to leave giant gaping holes all over the MWPP story)

Oh, and did anyone else hear the line  "take it upstairs and have sex with it" from a backround voice when everyone was all aflitter over the Firebolt. Again, me laughing like a moron.

[Reply #306 on:]

Oh yeah, the door man of course....! heh

and yes you are awesome Slackjaw....marry me   

[Reply #307 on:]

Holy crap, Shaucker! That's awesome! I'll have to go see it again now to hear that.

[Reply #308 on:]

FazeShift has been complaining that ive only been posting negative revies.  Well, this outta make him happy (unless he's more happy complaining, in which case he's screwed).

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

How the hell is a movie aobut dodgeball this funny?  Especilally when you consider I'm not that big a fan of either ben Stiller or Vince Vaughn.  Somehow, though, everything in this movie just clicks to create comidic excellence.  I loved the pilot from Firefly as Steve the Pirate, I loved Rip Torn as the dodgeball mentor, I loved Gary Cole and his sidekick as the announcers from ESPN 8: "The Occho", I loved the dodgeball training film, and God help me, I even loved the Chuck Norris cameo.  My grade: B+.

But good as that was, it is surpassed by the gift from the comedy gods that is Anchorman: The Legand of Ron Burgandy.  I'll admit I came late to the Will Ferrell party (he didn't win me over until Elf turnned out to be good), but I'm glad I finally came around.  I wish I could begin to descirbe how great this movie was, but I can't.  Not without runing every joke for you, and then you'd kill me.  But it's a great movie if you don't nid your humour on the vulgar side, and is the fisrt comedy I've seen in a good long time where the third act is funnier then the first two.  Steve Carrell does the exact same thing Jack Black did in High Fidelity: rule every scene he's in.  Christina Applegate should become a major star again, or there is no justice.  And Ferrell does what he does best: makes you laugh until you wet 'em.  My grade: A.

[Reply #309 on:]

 

Originally posted by Mr.Nintendo:
 I personally thought that the various tired, parodies of various recent popular films were the worst part of Shrek 2, the spider-man and LOTR 'gags' are incredibly overdone and seemed like an attempt to dazzle the audience and get as many cheap laughs as possible within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Although the rest of the film was excellent, i didn't think it was quite as good as the first.

the first half isnt as good as the first film however the second half is better. just like american pie 3. How the Lord of the Rings and Spiderman were overdone i can actually get my head round. i would be surprised if either of them were more than a couple of seconds each so if that ruined the rest of the one and a half hours that is surprising. Lots of little references that werent particularly funny but this doesnt really matter in my opinion, its a great film regardless.

[Reply #310 on:]

Shrek 2
best film ive seen this year!!But im goin to see Spiderman 2 on Monday so who knows!!

[Reply #311 on:]

: Laughs : I keep thinking this guy is David A. on an off day. Well, here's another longwinded review from me.
Last night I finally rented Frida, because Our Man Molina is the lead actor. Boy, did I ever kick myself! I feel like a fool for not having been terribly enthusiastic about it when it first came out. If you have not yet seen Frida, do yourself a favor and rent it. It is a story about a woman with a lust for life, a free spirit.. She endures agonizing pain and still excels, becoming an elegant, idealized creature that transcends gender and social barriers. She is both man and woman, both high and lowly, both arrogant and humbled, both divine and very painfully human.
Geoffrey Rush, Antonio Banderas, Ed Norton, OMM and of course Salma Hayek all give stunning performances.. And some of the most haunting images of the movie come from performers who you've probably never seen, like Chavela, who plays Death manifested as an old woman who sings to Frida in a bar. Frida went through an accident that should have killed her but only made her stronger.. And this film is a testament to Senora Kahlo's legacy. Combine that with stunning cinematography, experimental animation and paintings come to breathtaking life.. Well.
Also, even when there isn't sex on screen[and there is quite a lot], this is one of the sexiest films I've seen in a LONG time. Everything about it is smoky and sultry and gorgeous. A particular tango scene can be taken as exploitation.. [Especially with Molina and Banderas looking on] But Frida does what she does for herself and only herself, and that makes the sex powerful instead of victimizing. And now, a tender moment with Hayek[']s side] and Molina.

A++!

[Reply #312 on:]

Secret Window

Surprisingly good. Though we all know that that's because of Johnny Dep's always fantastic acting, the other actors were good, but Dep steals the show. I enjoyed the plot despite elements borrowed from other movies like Fight Club, and The Shining.

B

[Reply #313 on:]

I saw Frida a couple of weeks ago. I didn't like it. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't liked Salma Hayek as Frida. too over the top. But that's probably because I hate Salma Hayek's acting style. The rest of the cast was okay. Visually it's stunning but I just couldn't connect with the story and the characters.

 

performers who you've probably never seen, like Chavelas.. who plays Death manifested as an old woman who sings to Frida in a bar.

That's Chavela Vargas. She's Costa Rican, but I think she said said she hated us and our country so she went to Mexico.

[Reply #314 on:]

Frida: Best movie of its year. Julie Taymour is a art goddess, and Frida herself was before her time. EL, read the book. It's amazing, and while the movie did a great job, it left out a hell of a lot that makes Kahlo even more amazing.

[Reply #315 on:]

Yeah, I'm gonna look into the book. I've liked her art for a long time, but the movie makes it all easier to appreciate.
Okay, so.. Here goes again.
I, Robot
Well, the one thing that this movie has going for it.. There is only one robot in the whole film who breaks the laws of robotics. The trailers are very misleading. I appreciated that, in the movie.. As in the book.. The suspicion and inner workings of humans are far more of a threat to safety than the actions of robots. I'm not a fan of Will Smith, though.. And his character is dubious at best. There was one funny line[which I'll get some mileage out of.. Hint: It involves a sneeze], a lot of unlikeable humans, a very likeable robot and some pretty visuals. The last scene especially was very lovely, in a haunting way. For the most part, though, the main idea's been explored in plenty of other films, and all you'll really get out of this is a few hours of explosions.
And would it kill someone to think up another way to make a robot look evil besides making something on it glow red..!
B- [Plus two points because Sonny is cool.]

[Reply #316 on:]

I just saw Man Bites Dog, the satirical Belgian pseudo-documentary about a killer.  It was, um, dumber than I expected.  Amateurish acting didn't help.  And the writing was not as natural as it should have been.  I mean, compared to, say, Spinal Tap or Hard Core Logo.

I was half an hour into it before I realized it was supposed to be funny.  I guess I never get these black comedies.  But the main character was such a pompous ass that he annoyed the shit out of me, and I spent the whole movie waiting for him to die.  Still, I enjoy having seen it much more than I enjoyed seeing it. 

And next time I go into a bar with a bunch of people, I'm ordering a round of dead baby boys.

[Reply #317 on:]

I've had absolutely nothing to do lately, which equals lots of time spent watching movies...

Freaky Friday
Does Starz show anything else as of late?  It seems to always be on.  I've watched it twice in the past week.  Jamie Lee Curtis kicks serious ass, and Lindsay Lohan is less annoying than I thought.  The movie's pretty good.  Worth a rent if you've got kids.

2001: A Space Odyssey
Kubrick is a god, but when I've got a short attention span, I can't watch his films (which is why my Lolita DVD is still unwatched).  This is a masterpiece, but I stil don't think I understand it.  Repeat viewings are a must.

Bonnie and Clyde
One of my favorite films.  Faye Dunnaway, Warren Beatty and Gene Hackman are terrific.  Gene Wilder also makes his film debut here as a man the protagonists (if they may be called such) pick up briefly.  I have to wonder what the reaction to this movie was in 1967.  Bonnie's rather frank on the matter of sex, and the final scene is one of the most violent I've seen.

Secretary
This is one of my new favorite movies, and not just because I identify with Lee somewhat.  It really is a romance, albeit an off-beat one in the veins of Punch-Drunk Love, not just glorified pornography.  James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal have spectacular chemistry, and it's a crime that the latter didn't receive an Academy Award nomination.  This is an all-around fantastic movie.  If you have an open mind, I highly recommend it.

Monty Python's Meaning of Life
Since I can't go to this week's Rocky Horror showing, I needed to get my Patricia Quinn fix from another film.  And what a fix it was!  She's only in one scene (my favorite, as it were), but I saw more of her than ever before.  She plays Mrs. Williams, who's happy to assist her husband when he teaches a sex ed class.  Comic gold.  The rest of the film's hilarious as well, but I personally think it tapers off toward the end.  Still, I can't resist a movie that features both the machine that goes "ping" and "The Galaxy Song."

I'll need to pull an overhaul the next couple of days.  I've got several films that need to go back at the end of the weekend:
It Happened One Night
The Station Agent
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
What's Up, Tiger Lily?
I Wanna Be a Beauty Queen

[Reply #318 on:]

You gave I, Robot a B-, Vee?  Coming from you, that's a pretty favorable review.

 

Well, the one thing that this movie has going for it.. There is only one robot in the whole film who breaks the laws of robotics. The trailers are very misleading.

That's the most encouraging thing that I've heard about the movie so far.  Would Asimov have approved of the way that the movie uses his ideas, though?  What do you think?

 

And would it kill someone to think up another way to make a robot look evil besides making something on it glow red..!

You could always just slap one of these on it.  Works for me.

[Reply #319 on:]

Did anyone notice how venonm was in spidey 2. He better be in spiderman 3. Venonm was the guy MJ nearly married.