Movie Tab II

Quarantine
John Erick Dowdle, 2008

It's no secret that I love zombie type movies, they're actually one of my favorite types of movies, so I knew that I was going to enjoy this. I've seen some better zombie movies though. I have no problem with the shaky camera type of filming, but the ending to this really gave me a headache. I mean Cloverfield is one of my favorite movies, but I feel that it's used better in that. The first hour or so actually was fine, it was the last 20 minutes that it just got plain bad. It was moving so fast in some parts that I couldn't even tell what was going on. I couldn't tell who was infected and who wasn't, even when they're right in front of the camera because the camera's moving so freaking fast. That also brings me to my next point: the ending is really rushed. I mean most of the movie is pretty slow moving, but that was fine by me because I could at least tell what was going on. Once they figured how the infection started, I couldn't even tell what was going on. They could've slowed it down a bit, and made the movie a little longer.

I still enjoyed it, but I'm actually sort of glad that I didn't pay the money to see this in theaters. Any zombie or horror fan should check this out sometime, because it's still good. I'm not sure if I'll check [REC] out anytime soon though, because this is supposed to be a shot-for-shot remake of it. I'll definitely try to check it out sometime in the future, maybe once it finally gets released on DVD.

The Ox-Bow Incident -

+
(FIRST VIEWING)



This is now my third or fourth Western that I've ever seen, and my fifth Henry Fonda movie. It was very, very good. After perhaps starting off a bit on the slow side (at least during this first viewing; that opinion may change), the film peaked my interest once the action took place. The entire movie--which is less than an hour and twenty minutes long--consisted of a single event with the exception of the introductions at the film's beginning, and I was completely captivated throughout it (the single event). And what an ending; I think a quote that Henry Fonda's character delivers (a rather lengthy one) during it is now one of my new all-time favorite quotes (the letter he reads aloud). A powerful message was delivered here, in this movie, and perfectly. Now I can't wait for Henry Fonda film #6. Dunno what that will be yet.

The Heartbreak Kid -

Mediocrity at its most mediocre. A couple of suprisingly funny scenes, but beyond that, the story or characters invoked little-to-no interest in me.

Big -

Funny, charming, heartwarming, and hot-as-hell female lead sums up this movie pretty well. I liked it a lot; I know I've seen it before, but I didn't remember a darn thing. I was both happy and sad concerning the ending, but when the day is done, the right choice was made by the character.

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"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."
John Milton, Paradise Lost

My Movie Review Thread | My Top 100

Max Payne
John Moore, 2008

I guess you can put me in the minority for this one, but I actually really liked it. Yeah it's not some perfect film, but it's a very enjoyable action movie. It doesn't really deserve all the crap that it seems to get, IMO. I think people were just expecting something different when they saw it; I think if you're just expecting a great action movie, then you may end up liking it like I did. The last 30 minutes or so was just really awesome, like I mean really awesome. Some of the best action that I've ever seen. The film did have some bad dialouge and acting, and at some points the movie was pretty predictable, but it's still enjoyable. As far as acting goes though, I only really cared about Mark Wahlberg, who I thought did a pretty good job in this. It's no secret that Wahlberg is one of my favorite actors, and I feel that he seems to get a bunch of undeserved crap.

Judging from this and The Happening, which I like both, I'm starting to think that people don't nesicarily hate the movie, but they just hate Wahlberg, and then say the movie is crap. I may be totally wrong about that, but it's just something I noticed between the two movies. I sort of regret not seeing this in theaters, because it would've been a great movie to see in theaters. Anyone looking for a good action movie to watch on a rainy day or something, I think you should give this one a try. You might end up liking it and be in the miniorty with me.

Opera is often put down by its poor script. Luckily it has astounding camera work and stupendous cinematography to aid it. Though, even with all the positives, there are too many negatives to be able to rightfully label it as a good film. The acting was b-grade though not terrible, the script was a very poor apparent attempt to homage The Phantom of the Opera, and a very weak main character will have the viewer begging for the killer to succeed with his evil doings.

Nevertheless, there are some genuinely chilling moments in the film. Opera is a murder-mystery (and quite a gruesome one at that) so the camera never focuses on the killers face until the final minutes of the film. The slow, almost immobile actions of the killer send shivers racing down the spine. Such seemingly dispensable actions will almost unwittingly haunt the viewer throughout the film (such as the killer merely scraping his knife on a television monitor displaying what he thinks to be his next victim).

The camera work combined with excellent cinematography is remarkable, brilliant really. Non-crucial moments in the film are distinctly memorable because of it (a shining example would be the bullet through the door hole or shots from the lead characters point of view while tied up by the killer, unable of movement).

The death scenes are gloriously gruesome (the killer sticks a knife through a man’s chin with it visibly coming out through the other end of the mouth). Though, while the death scenes do make the film much more enjoyable, they do not make up for the poor characterizations or script. The plot was nonsensical, even silly at times. At times the script tried conjuring up suspense and miserably failed at it. The characters, mixed with a disjointed plot, easily leave the viewer in disbelief at times; moments that may get the viewer scratching their head thinking of how stupid the main character actually is.

When the star of an opera production is run over by a car, a young singer gets the chance to headline what may be a transcendent opportunity. With her big opportunity she also becomes a psychopath’s ambition for murder. The film starts out very promisingly, but shortly after a few unnecessary plot points the film quickly loses its spark. The revealing of the killer is good, but is tarnished with an avoidable little twist at the end.

Overall, Opera is far from a bad film, though it is nowhere near great, it is enjoyable. It should mainly please most fans of the genre, though I will hesitate to call it a genre “must-see.” Argento has done some mighty fine work in the past that can make Opera look almost expendable. As a fan of of Argento's work, I would still give Opera a minimal recommendation.

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The Lives of Others (4/5)

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"Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

Aside from re-watching Lost Highway again, I also got around to checking out...



The Outlaw Josey Wales (Eastwood, 1976) - +

I'll be damned. I was a little worried that I may have been let down, given how much praise I've heard it get, but it deserves all of it. Eastwood crafts a highly competent film that delivers on virtually every front - excellent character development, some brilliantly executed confrontations, a great look to it (not even the recorded DVD-R's occasional drop in picture quality could diminish the film's visuals). All in all, great.

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Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0

Re-watched some favorites and still love em.



Sweeney Todd

The only musical I have ever enjoyed (excluding South Park) , it's so full of energy - a huge score backs all the songs which are all amazingly worded. Tim Burton's best work and the best he'll ever do - such a talented cast and a very unique visual style.

"It's man devouring man my dear and who are we to do deny it in here"





Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz tells a hilarious and original story - then destroys (in a good way) everything it set up in an epic 30 minute action extravaganza , fully synced up with the over-the-top score.





WALL-E

Brilliant stuff , bare minimal dialogue and still widely entertaining. It's truely original film making from the best animation studio.

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I'm glad you enjoyed it - great movie.

21 Grams
Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2003

Okay, well personally, I thought this was a great movie. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again, if I do, it's going to be a couple of years before I try and give it another watch. This was one of the most surreal movies I've ever seen. I could actually see this happening in real life, and I'm sure it probably has happened before. I love that they did the interconnected characters storyline, because most movies that does that seems to turn out really great. The story was just so depressing, which is why I'm not sure I'll ever watch it again. While it's a great movie, it was actually really hard for me to get through the whole thing. The last 15 or 20 minutes really had me wanting to turn it off. The ending did seem to have sort of a twist to it, if you could call it that. The plot was very jumpy, but that doesn't mind me, because I watch a lot of movies that are like that.

The acting, though, is incredible. I don't think there was a single weak perforance from anyone in the cast. Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro were about equal as far as performances goes, and they're the two best of the movie. Naomi Watts did a great job as well, as did Danny Houston, who was only in the movie for like 5 or 10 minutes total. I'm not sure if I'd actually recommend this to anyone, because it being so surreal and depressing. If you want to be depressed after watching the movie, then go ahead and try this one out. At least I only paid 5 dollars for it. I want to give it a perfect score so much, but I just can't because I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to watch it again.

+

When I first saw this film (21 Grams) I went in with high expectations seeing as I loved Amores Perros, unfortunately I left the theater disappointed.

I believe that Amores perros is also much better.

"Okay, well personally, I thought this was a great movie. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again, if I do, it's going to be a couple of years... " That doesn't tell you something right there?

I think you need to watch Fast Times at Ridgemont High like, umm, now!

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It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page

Have you seen Babel, MovieMan?

So, this movie isn't as well made, and probably the weakest overall. Its' acting is terrible. Its' story, so unbelivable. But everyone is cast well. The Rock (or Dwayne Johnson) is a brute who looks like he has strong morals. Neal McDonough is a guy you legitamitly hate. Johnny Knoxville is likeble, I always have liked him in a stupid way. It's 84 minutes, but it kicks so much ass.

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I used to be addicted to crystal meth, now I'm just addicted to Breaking Bad.

Pineapple Express
David Gordon Green, 2008

I've seen this like 7 or 8 times now, and I'm not really sure if there's anything else I could add that I haven't already said. It's my favorite non-sexual comedy that I've ever seen. I noticed that I really love stoner comedies, and plan to see some more. To see a full review, you can check out my movie review thread. Also, if you may have noticed I bumped my score up an extra .5 of a point. I think that next time I watch it, I may even bump up my score even more. This is just one of those rare movies that just gets better and better with each viewing.



I want to see it, because I love comedies. Also, it stars Sean Penn, so that's a plus.

Nope.

You might like it more than 21 Grams...

"Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: 'When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever their diverging paths, on the said day they will inevitably come together in the red circle."

Le Cercle Rouge (1970, Jean Pierre Melville)

4.5/5

Melville is one of my favorite directors...

I've only seen this one, and the two in my top 100: Le Samourai and Bob le Flambeur (which I've watched quite a few times), but all three are grade A films. I'm going to get a hold of Army of Shadows soon, any other suggestions Justin?

Army of Shadows is amazing, maybe my favorite. Les Enfants Terribles is also pretty good - which is a collaboration between Melville and Jean Cocteau. Try Le deuxième souffle, too.

Thanks Justin, I had written Le Deuxieme Souffle on my 'To See' list a ways back, I notice now it's on Criterion (gotta love The Criterion Collection) so it should be easier to find.