Tyler's Reviews

Point Break (1991)



So I'm watching The Matrix, and my mum, who's never seen it before, walks past and mumbles "Oh, Johnny Utah,". I asked what that meant and she said "It's a part-surfing, part bank robbery movie called Point Break,". Point Break. I heard of the movie before, so I found a copy for $9 and bought it on a blind buy. After 117 minutes of sky-diving, high octane madness, I got up and said "That was the most overblown, mindless and no-holds barred excuse for a movie,". Needless to say, I loved every moment.

Keanu Reeves plays Johnny Utah, a young FBI agent partnered with an over the hill burnout, who believes a gang of bank robbers, known as the Ex President, are surfers. Utah goes undercover to infiltrate a surfer gang to find who the Ex Presidents are.

The whole cast is fun to watch, as Keanu gets to say dude a lot, Patrick Swayze cranks up the charisma and Gary Busey, well, gets to be Gary Busey. The writing isn't Oscar worthy or anything, but does have a few good lines in it, especially the famous six words uttered by John C. McGinley. "You're a real blue-flame special. Young, dumb and full of come,".

The outlandish plot can be a bit much at times, but the excellent surfing and skydiving scenes redeem that, and there is plenty to still enjoy about it. It's better than Speed.

__________________
"George, this is a little too much for me. Escaped convicts, fugitive sex... I've got a cockfight to focus on."

You'd never seen Point Break? Wow! Still, at least you've rectified that now. Your list is starting to make sense to me now. It's not that your taste is suspect, it's that you've not seen the good films.

Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus (2009)



Inarguably the greatest film of 2009, this acclaimed, complex masterpiece lives up to it's hype. Featuring Deborah Gibson in a masterful and nuanced performance, the film benefits from stylish direction, insightful writing and generates genuine sympathy for it's misunderstood title characters. They kill innocent people, yes, but we're too compelled by Mega Shark and Giant Octopus as characters that we forget that.

Honestly, this is a mega-giant piece of crap. Whereas Sharktopus had personality, this suffers from a low budget, terrible acting (only Sean Lawlor is likeable), rubbish writing, recycled shots and the worst CGI you will ever see. Also, the sudden shades of black and white annoyed the sh*t out of me. Deborah Gibson delivers the crappiest performance in film history, and the final scene is embarassing. The only redeeming element is a totally unintentionally hilarious scene where Mega Shark jumps through the air and catchs an airplane. A good moment in a predictable film.

Ace Hannah, you should be ashamed of yourself.

this scene you mean? come on!, how can you not like this .

Short Reviews

Empire Of The Sun (1987)

Spielberg's forgotten wartime drama was made in his quest for an Oscar. The first hour of the film is very slow, but soon picks up, thanks to Christian Bale's outstanding debut performance and John Williams' score. Recommended.

Don't Say A Word (2001)

A nice thriller, with a superb visual look and a first rate performance, but the story and writing is very routine and predictable.

So you like Sharktopus more than Mega Shark? You're mad. Genuinely mad.

Sharktopus is, almost, an homage to Mega Shark. It's for the Mega Shark fans.

Hk you can't beat mega shark vs crocosaurus, have you seen the special effects in this thing .

That looks way better than Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus.

Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)

Stanley Kubrick's cold war comedy masterwork gets better with each viewing, and is one of the few Kubrick movies that I feel compelled to rewatch. In what is obviously the most acclaimed film of 1964, the extremely difficult task of making comedy about Armageddon is excellently handled by Kubrick.

Peter Sellers plays Captain Mandrake, a British officer who must try and stop the madness of his superior, who has ordered an attack on Russia. Meanwhile, President Merkin Muffley and his military leaders brief the situation, while the President's advisor, Dr Strangelove, believes that Russia is brewing a superbomb that will bring the world to an end.

Stanley Kubrick proved with this film that he was an amazing director. While the film is classified as a comedy, there are moments of power, especially during an attack on a military base. I've read somewhere else on this forum (I think it was Mark F) that it's almost like documentary footage. The characters are all equally memorable, from Peter Seller's triple performance to George C. Scott's outrageous portrayal of Buck Turgidson to Slim Pickens' cowboy pilot. Every performance is excellent and the writing is wonderfully dark and humourous.

Another case of further viewings make it seem better, this is currently my third favourite Kubrick film, and I wouldn't be surprised if it rised from that place in the near future.

Might be watching Mulholland Drive tonight, so there may be a review of that tomorrow.

Mulholland Dr. is incredible. I hope you're not disappointed.

Mulholland Dr. (2001)



I've never seen a David Lynch film before now. I actually have been interested in seeing Mulholland Dr. for a while now, especially after hearing NOTHING but great things about it. I was not disappointed by it at all. Striking images and interpretive storytelling appealed, as David Lynch, whose other work I will definitely be seeking out, creates a wonderfully kooky visual masterpiece.

I won't go into detail about the plot, except it's sort of an examination of the allure of Hollywood, and it's seedy side. As I started watching Mulholland Drive, I thought to myself "I do not know what this is, but I can't look away,". It's definitely a gripping experience, as themes of alternate realities are explored and a cast of mysterious characters are thrown in front of the viewer. 2001 was definitely a great year for visuals in film, as along with The Fellowship Of The Ring, Monster's Inc. & Donnie Darko, David Lynch maintains a moody atmosphere, with creative ideas brought to life by his weird, but brilliant vision.

The music by Angelo Badalamenti is hypnotic, as it switches between an uneasy tone to a rock'n'roll track. Naomi Watts is compelling as the lead character, switching between niave beauty to raw emotion. Justin Theroux and Laura Harring are solid in their own right, but Naomi Watts is something special. Not surprising, since the entire film is special.

I can see why some would consider this confusing or warped, but this is a David Lynch, and from what I've heard, it's to be expected. I think the word to sum up Mulholland Drive is wow. I urge you to see it, if you haven't already, and experience one of the finest films of the last decade.

Any recommendations of what David Lynch film to watch next?

The Straight Story or, if you want weird and frightening, Blue Velvet.

Magnolia (1999)



A masterpiece of emotion and fractured lives, I fell in love with Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia when I first saw it a few months ago. I'm a fan of PTA's work, and this isn't my favourite of his, but there's something about Magnolia. I've seen it more times than Boogie Nights (my favourite PTA feature), and it just seems to get a whole lot better each time. I just love everything about it.

Magnolia interweaves different storylines, all with themes of paternal forgiveness and the flaws people have. Earl Partridge, a dying old man, asks his nurse to find his son, Frank, author of the Seduce & Destory program. Jimmy Gator, another dying man, tries to mend his relationship with cocaine addicted daughter Claudia. Jimmy hosts a game show, where Stanley Spector, a current child contestant, is subtly abused by his father and lives a very lonely life. And Officer Jim Kurring, a religous police officer, has feelings for Claudia. Other stories are told, and each character is connected to another, in some way. At 3 hours, some may call it overlong, but Anderson has taken his time to depict his characters, and gives us time to connect with them. Even Frank T.J Mackey (Tom Cruise), the misogynistic bastard, is given our sympathy before the film's credit's roll. It's a testament to Anderson's talent as a writer and a director that we connect with such flawed people, who face different demons.

PTA's long list of well-developed characters are all given their moments, when they break down and cry, or go emotionally over the top. The best example I can think of from the film, is where Frank T.J Mackey, a man who, up to a certain point in the film, is sure of he is and what he wants. But when he is given a hard choice, through his facial expressions we see he doesn't know what to do. Each character is building up frustration, sadness and raw emotion that they all let it out in key moments in the film. I rarely cry during films, but there were moments in Magnolia where I felt so much for these people, that I went teary-eyed.

Anderson masterfully directs his film, with superb visuals, that seem to get darker and darker as the film goes along, and a great soundtrack, that captures every moment with a feeling of perfection. After Boogie Nights, Anderson is more experienced and creates wonderful moments in Magnolia, that are like strokes of genius. The sing-along of Wise Up is beautiful, in every single way.

Jeremy Blackman, the youngest cast member, breaks my heart every time when he confronts his father and says to him "Dad, you need to be nicer to me,". Blackman is perfect in a role that requires subtlety above all else. John C. Reilly is excellent in a professional and emotionally vulnerable performance as Jim. Reilly showcases dramtic depth, not seen in the likes of Step Brothers. Of course, I'm saving the best for last. Tom Cruise. ******, there are not enough positive words on this earth to describe his work. Cruise haters, his personal life may be a bit strange, but admit he is a very fine actor in certain roles. Each line of dialogue is delivered with Cruise's magnetic charisma as a driving force behind it. He is electrifying as Mackey, and many people mention the "I'm quietly judging you" scene as the best moment, but for me, it's when he yells "I want you to do your ******* job" that gets me. We have seen a character thats at times calm and at others energetic, but this is the scene when Cruise's character changes, and with a hint of desperation.

I already know there's plenty of fans of this film on Movie Forums, and I'm definitely one of them. While I don't love it as much as Boogie Nights, I still find a lot to love and enjoy about Magnolia.

Sharktopus (2010)

Every once in a while, there's a film that sounds so bad, it should thrown into a volcano, and then that volcano should be thrown into a larger volcano, but then surprises you by being pretty damn good. Sharktopus is that film, for me at least.

A genetically engineered monster hybrid of shark and octopus is on the loose in Mexico, and it's up to a reluctant douchebag to bring it down, with the help of a female scientist, who happens to be the daughter of the man responsible for creating Sharktopus. Eric Roberts, always fun to watch, leads a cast of, other than Roberts himself, unknowns, who are very surprisingly ok. They're not great or anything, but they aren't epically awful either.

The effects aren't much, either. It looks fake, and the photography isn't exactly beautiful to look at. But what makes Sharktopus entertaining is it's sense of humour. Whereas Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus was a dour, recycled piece of steaming hot *****, Sharktopus is playfully violent, with plenty of tongue in cheek humour.

It isn't a masterpiece, but it is what it is; an entertaining romp.

Well, you know I disagree with you with you Mega Shark and Sharktopus. However, I still like this film, so it's + rep from me.

does this rating mean i should watch this movie .

The Rock (1996)



Michael Bay. Everyone's favourite director to hate on. People dislike his style, his handling of material and the overall quality he brings to his films. Not me. I'm a Michael Bay fan. I like every film of his that I've seen (even Transformers 2), but this is my favourite. It's the one that seems to cop the least amount of negative criticism, and that's for a reason. It's a hugely enjoyable, exciting, energetic action thriller with some great lead performances and memorable action sequences.

Nicolas Cage plays Stanley Goodspeed, a nerdy FBI chemical specialist, who is thrust into a situation involving a pissed off General (Ed Harris), a team of Marines, chemical weapons and Alcatraz. The government decides to send in a team of Navy Seals, along with John Mason (Sean Connery), the only man to ever have escaped Alcatraz.

Leave your brain at the door. The first rule of The Rock. If you want intelligence, go watch something else, because I doubt you'll find any here. It's directed by Michael Bay, for Pete's sake. If you're expecting explosions and gunfire, then prepare for a megaton action orgasm, because The Rock delivers. Bay can construct a good action sequence and The Rock includes high speed car chases, tense gunfights, hand to hand combat and more. The lead performances are particularly good, with Sean Connery a hoot as Mason, Nicolas Cage giving one of his best performances (yes, I'm being serious) and the always reliable Ed Harris giving another solid performance.

If there is any reason one would not consider watching this, it's the aforementioned man at the helm. Honestly, if you take it on it's terms, you may find you like it. Although, that's coming from a guy who used to think Pearl Habour was a cinematic masterpiece (I was six years old).

Along with Con Air & Point Break, The Rock remains one of the greatest "mindless '90's action" films ever made. It's bullsh*t, but it's Bay bullsh*t.

Basic Instinct (1992)

Paul Verhoeven has always been a bit hit and miss for me. Total Recall is ass-kicking awesomeness, and Starship Troopers is a solid sci-fi-war picture, but the rest are a bit iffy for me. Basic Instinct has always intrigued me, though, because I have a major crush on Ms Stone and Michael Douglas ain't that bad an actor, either. But does the film itself deserve all the negative criticism it receives?

First of all, I went into this with very little expectations. Sure, I'd heard of the notorious interrogation scene, and I was excited to see it going in, but other than that, I expected to it to be trash. Imagine how surprised I was to find an suspenseful, atmospheric and erotic thriller hiding beneath the trashy exterior. Seriously, I'm not joking. I think this film is terrific.

Verhoeven seemed to be having a lot of fun playing with the conventions of the thriller genre, while adding a substantial amount of sex and violence for casual viewing pleasure. That opening scene throws the viewer straight into the murder investigation, and the pacing maintains a solid speed, never letting up, but never going too fast that you're going to miss important details. I also like how Verhoeven shoots the sex scenes in a trashy pornographic sort of way, but the photography manages keep an aura of class.

Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone deliver two convincing and engaging central performances, as the conflicted cop and the cold femme fatale respectively. Their dialogue delivery borders on the melodramatic at times, but for the most part, they remain solid leads that anchor the film.

But, all these points aside, I can see where the negative criticism comes from. It's depiction of the character's sexual energy can be a bit much, and some of the blood effects look fake. Also, that final twist, I saw it coming. Honestly, who didn't? From the beginning, it established that Catherine Tramell was a b*tch you just didn't want to mess with.

Despite this, I enjoyed Basic Instinct quite a bit. A very engaging, mildly contrived thriller that maintained it's pace and kept me entertained. And if a movie can do that for me, I'm happy.