Lennon's reviews!

--------------------copied from Movie Tab II----------------





MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D

Let me start by saying that this movie was really really fun. And if you're going to see it, shell out the extra $2 to go see it in 3D. It really surprised me by how much I enjoyed myself.

Now for the real review, I'll start by addressing the thing that if you're even thinking of seeing this, the kills. Some were pretty bland, lots of oh, here's a shield, this will protect me, then after a while fail to dodge. Some where kind of mediocre, a nurse being pickaxed in the back. And some where just off-the-wall cool, shovel used in a way that they probably shouldn't. You even get the cliche of partying teens being killed.

And yes, plenty of gore. You see a persons ribcage, without the skin covering it. You even see lots of human hearts, in chocolate heart candy. It just never looked that realistic. But for a movie like this, I guess we have to suspend belief for an hour and half. The 3d enhanced this a lot though, the beginning scene does feel like it drags you into the movie.

Now as far as the technical aspect goes, the direction was meh. I think I was the only one who noticed, but during some of the later kill scenes (starting with Red in the mine) it looked like someone was like speeding the film up. It was just weird. Also, it used the AvP:R method of being to dark at times. You've got it man, you've got to flaunt it.

As far as the script goes, lots of people make stupid decisions (Sarah and Tom in the car towards the end.) The ending was pretty stupid, I mean they try to throw you a curve ball, but it's still a bad ball thrown. While still talking about baseball, this curve ball was so bad, it almost hits you in the kahunas. It also ended in the cliche way of the killer, I'll be back, way. I'm not even sure, why the killer did it. No motive appeared, even after the flashy montage.

The acting doesn't really help the script either. Jensen Ackles can barely act, and is quickly becoming the next Paul Walker. I never felt any chemistry between him and Jamie King. It was even worse with Kerr Smith. One role I really did like was a naked Betsy Rue,not just because she's naked (but it certainly helps) but the fact that she's funny, campy, and delivers a hella good scream.

To wrap it up, MBV is a so-so movie. But I had fun watching it and I think you will too

Mystic River

Now, I wasn't sure what to think before getting this movie. I remember a lot of hub bub, and something called the Oscars? (I was 11, excuse me for not caring!) It won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn and Tim Robbins (greatly deserved) and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Picture, which were again, greatly deserved. So maybe a month ago, I noticed the top 100 list of fellow MoFo, MovieMan saying that "it has the most powerful ending of all-time." I've agreed with him a lot (and disagreed, Dirty Harry ain't that great.) But I must say, I immensly agree.

Our story is about childhood friends named Dave (Robbins), Sean (Kevin Bacon) and Jimmy (Sean Penn.) One day during the summer, a "cop" stops them as they are writing their name in wet cement. The "cop" turns out to be a pedophile, and takes Dave away. 25 years later Jimmy's daughter is murdered, reuiniting the "friends."

The most outstanding thing about MR is the acting. Tim Robbins, playing the sexually abused adult, is probably given the emotional role. You can actually see him going insane, and the interrogation scen with Fishburne and Bacon is just purely amazing. Sean Penn is more than likely next, he plays the former criminal father to a Tee. Before Milk I never saw Sean Penn act, but he's quickly becoming one of my favorite actors right now. I'll be sure to check out Dead Man Walking, I am Sam, and Sweet and Lowdown sometime soon. If you don't think he deserved the Oscar, look at the scene that I pictured, watch it, then look me straight in the eyes and tell me he still didn't have the best performance of the year. Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne have good chemistry, like two cop partners rightly should. Even Marcia Gay Harden does well as the wife basically having a psychotic breakdown.

The script by Brian Helgeland, based off of Dennis Lehane's book of the same name, of cource helps with this. I could go on and on about how the ending was one of the best I've ever seen (Casino is the only one that comes even close to beating it.) Or how complex the script is, with fully fleshed out sub-plots. But one thing I think that needs mentioning is the little things, like in the first scene 25 years after the friends, nothing is actually explained to us, hell we dont even know it's 25 yars later. The script makes you think, make connections, but by the end it comes full circle. It's marvelous.

Add in Eastwood's directing (my second film of his, after Gran Torino) and the movie just gets better. His transitions are fantastic. During the scene outside the bar with Dave and Jimmy, the way Eastwood switches inbetween them and the Harris', I really liked it. Even the way in the beginning, the way he shot it, he makes the scene move so fast, and tells us so much, capturing the franticness, is great. I loved it.

I'm trying not to sound way to positive, I'm trying to find flaws, but honestly, I think I loved it to much. If you haven't seen it, see it ASAP. Definte top 15 material.