Jumper (2008, directed by Doug Liman) - D+

Mildred Pierce (1945): B+

A little melodramatic at times, but a really enjoyable drama.

I can totally see why Joan Crawford won the Oscar for it: not only was she great, it was a really baity role. How can someone not root for the housewife turned into successful business woman, who, on top of that, was abused by her daughter?

Speaking of her daughter, Ann Blyth was amazing as Veda! Everytime she was on the screen I felt the urge to slap her.

There Will Be Blood

I was so excited to see this that I went out first thing yesterday and rented it.

To be honest, I am just not sure about the film. I am on the fence about the whole thing really. Best Picture Worthy? I'm not so sure. Best Director & Screenplay worthy? I'm not so sure. Best Actor nomination worthy for sure, but a win, I dunno. DDL was great in that last hour of the film, but the first hour and a half, I am just not sure.

Wow thats alot not to be sure about. Ha! Paul Dano should have been nominated for more than the BAFTA. I did think he was pretty good.

There Will Be Blood - Grade ??? (I guess I need to think about it more)

August Rush (2 out 5 stars)

This film is too sentimental but yet is also very creepy and odd at moments as well. I was looking forward to this thinking maybe it will suprise me.

Robin William's character was awful and awkward, and the way they tried to break this film up just did not work overall.

The ending was awful as well, the sentiment was almost making me change my mind and the thie film ended and I was like thats all, and that was the best way to describe this film as That's all...really.

Enchanted 2007, Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon.

I have to say, this was one of the most delightful, enjoyable and wonderful movies i've ever seen. Amy Adams as Giselle was simply magnifigant. Her delivery was spot-on and i like that she never stepped out of character, something that i'm sure was rather difficult to do. I loved the juxtaposition of Giselle's optimistic view of the world and the more cynical view of the so-called "real world". One of the absolute highlights for me was James Marsden as Prince Edward, who manged to create a likeable, yet slightly dim-witted character who was attempting to find his true love, The story was really magical and played out in a way that actually made the story believeable. I loved the transistions from animation to live action and felt they were done in a natural way that helped the story. I really liked Susan Sarandon here, she did some nice work, ecspecially in her big final showdown scenes. I also liked the off-hand references to other Disney movies, the slipper left behind ala Cinderella, the poisoned apple ala Snow White, the haggard woman, also ala Snow White, the magical kiss ala Sleeping Beauty, the talking animals, ala every disney movie. I really enjoyed all of the musical numbers and thought they were infectious and catchy. My favorites were "So Close" and "Happy Working Song".

Overall Grade: A


Alvin and The Chipmunks 2007 Starring Jason Lee.

As a fan of the cartoon's from the 70's and 80's i went into this with some trepidation, but ended up really enjoying this movie. I thought the chipmunks were really cute and the animation was well done. I also thought Jason Lee, while slightly mis-cast did a great job in the role and made the best he could out of it. I like that the centeral message of the film was about family and how the love of a family is the most important thing. I laughed through the movie and found the entire thing utterly charming, if not a little predictable.

Overall Grade: B+

Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990, Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates.

An utter and sheer disaster on every conviceable level. It lacked the fantsay element that made the first one so enjoyable and had none of the heart of the first (which yes is an odd thing to say considering this is the gremlins we are talking about, not exactly a warm yourself kind of movie)--but it was simply horrible. I hate that they seemed to put effort into giving each gremlin a personality and the horrible muppet-esque musical number was hideous. I thought the entire thing was utterly unwatchable. Phoebe Cates is utterly cold and lifeless throughout the film and Zack Galligan is simply laughable. One of the worst movie's i've ever seen.

Overall Grade: F

LOTR: The Return Of The King

quote:

Originally posted by tomk:

quote:

Originally posted by FishBiscuit:
"Scent of a Woman" 1992

Katherine Hepburn was RIGHT about Oscar winning preformances.

Pacino is over-the-hop and hammy to the nth degree in this one. He had no business winning the Oscar for this role. Ironically it's his preformance that saves the film from being a bloated mess. I find it interesting that the movie's selling point is also the biggest distraction.

C-

What's a preformance? Is that anything like precum?

PS: You're right about the movie.

This gave me a good laugh tomk However, after a change in spelling Fishbiscuit, the second time you used it, it was still preformance.

quote:

Originally posted by Brilliance inmorbid:
I don't get the Keira Knightley hate. She isn't the most versatile actress but neither is Natalie Portman and especially Jake Gyllenhaal (two actors that are adored by most on this board), yet she's able to exude more passion and has more screen presence than either or them and many others. Her uppercrust vunerable snob-girl was right on point and felt very real to me. I had more of a problem with McAvoy who still comes off as flat in just about every flick he's in.

I'm with you on the why the Keira Knightley hate, but I'm also asking, why the Portman and Gylenhaal hate?

All three are some of the best in their generation IMO.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: iskolar,

quote:

Originally posted by iskolar:

quote:

Originally posted by Brilliance inmorbid:
I don't get the Keira Knightley hate. She isn't the most versatile actress but neither is Natalie Portman and especially Jake Gyllenhaal (two actors that are adored by most on this board), yet she's able to exude more passion and has more screen presence than either or them and many others. Her uppercrust vunerable snob-girl was right on point and felt very real to me. I had more of a problem with McAvoy who still comes off as flat in just about every flick he's in.

I'm with you on the why the Keira Knightley hate, but I'm also asking, why the Portman and Gylenhaal hate?

All three are the best in their generation IMO.

I wouldn't say that they are the best, but I have a lot of respect for each of them and enjoy their movies. I think they've all got a lot to work on, Knightley and Portman in particular. Knightley needs to branch out from her usual period dramas because, at 23, people are starting to get very bored with her. Portman takes a lot of risks, which is good, but she really needs to start picking better projects. Lately, with her, it's been one stinker after another.

I'm excited to see Portman and Gyllenhaal in Brothers. Jim Sheridan is one of my favorite directors, so I've got faith in the project, even if Tobey Maguire is involved.

quote:

Originally posted by k:
I wouldn't say that they are the best, but I have a lot of respect for each of them and enjoy their movies. I think they've all got a lot to work on, Knightley and Portman in particular. Knightley needs to branch out from her usual period dramas because, at 23, people are starting to get very bored with her. Portman takes a lot of risks, which is good, but she really needs to start picking better projects. Lately, with her, it's been one stinker after another.

I'm excited to see Portman and Gyllenhaal in Brothers. Jim Sheridan is one of my favorite directors, so I've got faith in the project, even if Tobey Maguire is involved.

I just re-read my post and I made a mistake. I'll edit that later. I was suppose to say one of the bests.

Portman and Gylenhaal, after their Oscar nominations were taken more seriously as actors rather as teen stars. They are two of Hollywood actors which has the best chance of longevity.

I agree with your assessment of Knightley, she must try to skip those period dramas and try for better roles for her to avoid being stuck in that genre. She has proven that she has the potential with Bend it like Beckham, and all she needs are more projects that can test her versatility. unfortunately, her next movie is a period once again [The Dutchess]

Emily Blunt, and Rachel McAdams also needs the right project but as far as talent goes, I think they already has lots of it. If Heath ledger is still categorized in their generation, then I say he's a pretty big loss.

Other great names in their age group includes Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst [she's good in Marie Antoinette IMO], Ellen Page, Michael Cera, and I might be alone on this one... Anne Hathaway.

quote:

Originally posted by Boidiva02:
Enchanted 2007, Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon.

I have to say, this was one of the most delightful, enjoyable and wonderful movies i've ever seen. Amy Adams as Giselle was simply magnifigant. Her delivery was spot-on and i like that she never stepped out of character, something that i'm sure was rather difficult to do. I loved the juxtaposition of Giselle's optimistic view of the world and the more cynical view of the so-called "real world". One of the absolute highlights for me was James Marsden as Prince Edward, who manged to create a likeable, yet slightly dim-witted character who was attempting to find his true love, The story was really magical and played out in a way that actually made the story believeable. I loved the transistions from animation to live action and felt they were done in a natural way that helped the story. I really liked Susan Sarandon here, she did some nice work, ecspecially in her big final showdown scenes. I also liked the off-hand references to other Disney movies, the slipper left behind ala Cinderella, the poisoned apple ala Snow White, the haggard woman, also ala Snow White, the magical kiss ala Sleeping Beauty, the talking animals, ala every disney movie. I really enjoyed all of the musical numbers and thought they were infectious and catchy. My favorites were "So Close" and "Happy Working Song".

Overall Grade: A



Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990, Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates.

An utter and sheer disaster on every conviceable level. It lacked the fantsay element that made the first one so enjoyable and had none of the heart of the first (which yes is an odd thing to say considering this is the gremlins we are talking about, not exactly a warm yourself kind of movie)--but it was simply horrible. I hate that they seemed to put effort into giving each gremlin a personality and the horrible muppet-esque musical number was hideous. I thought the entire thing was utterly unwatchable. Phoebe Cates is utterly cold and lifeless throughout the film and Zack Galligan is simply laughable. One of the worst movie's i've ever seen.

Overall Grade: F

See, I'm the opposite. We were evacuated from the movie theatre for a fire about 2/3 of the way through "Enchanted", and used our free passes to see something else. Haven't even rented the DVD to see the end. It was cute, but "eh", although I did love James Marsden, and thought Amy Adams was great as well. I would give it a "B-".

And "Gremlins 2"- I'm aging myself but I was a teenager when it came out, and I loved it- I still enjoyed it when it came on HBO a couple of weeks ago. Does it have any redeeming social value? Nah, but it's a heckuva lot of fun!

Gremlin's 2 was a poor movie. They should not have even made a sequal. But at least the 2 leads from the first were in the second.

Adaptation (second time)

Another knockout, dizzying, but rewarding script by Charlie Kaufman about his own struggle (interestingly played by Nicolas Cage) to adapt a seemingly empty and pointless book by Susan Orleans (Streep, in another extraordinary and eventually double (but totally believable) performance), where she writes about an orchid smuggler. Takes time to get into, and the endless cycle of 'the movie within a movie' may become frustrating, but the excellent performances, especially by a scene-stealing and exceptional Chris Cooper as the smuggler John Laroche (in a well deserved Oscar winning role), elevate and lighten the movie and make it ultimately rewarding.

Grade: ****/*****

Leprechaun

La Bamba

Looking for Kitty (2004, directed by Edward Burns) - D-

The Maltese Falcon (1941): A-

The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Can't really say anything new. Pitt and Affleck are incredible. Two amazing performances. The film is freakin gorgeous. Every frame could be a painting.
But yeah, it's just too slow. There's very little of the first hour that is needed, and you could have cut out 15 minutes of the last 30 mins. With proper editing, this would have been a Best Picture contender.
B

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GH,

Reservation Road (2007, directed by Terry George)

Decent performances from Phoenix and Ruffalo don't make up for the below average screenplay.

It wasn't a horrible movie, but very mediocre at best.

Some books shouldn't be made into films.

D+

quote:

Originally posted by GH:
The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Can't really say anything new. Pitt and Affleck are incredible. Two amazing performances. The film is freakin gorgeous. Every frame could be a painting.
But yeah, it's just too slow. There's very little of the first hour that is needed, and you could have cut out 15 minutes of the last 30 mins. With proper editing, this would have been a Best Picture contender.
B

I am buying this movie next week. So do u think Brad Pitt was overlooked for this role with the Globes and Oscars?

Wag the Dog B+

Eerily relevant. I think that's all I need to say.