Movietime

I spend much of my time watching/thinking about movies. Here's my take on the movies i've watched so far this year.

Finding Neverland - Good performances by Depp and Winslet, but not quite there - those two are capable of better; maybe if the script had been a little more compelling and less pitifull. Still a good movie following J. M. Barrie's development of Peter Pan. 7/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

Zombie Night - My Canon A80 could make a better movie; this is the lowest production movie i've ever seen for rent in Blockbuster - lousy lighting, sets, scoring, etc. Horrendous acting (save Curtis) and a hole-ridden plot not even worth laughing at, yet it features all the zombie movie essentials and they're coming back with a part II. It's not Battlefield Earth, but it is pretty damn bad. 1/10 overall, 3/10 in genre.

Emma - Love stories from Jane Austen featuring good performances all around, lacks depth of characters, plot, but i was spoiled by Sense & Sensibility. Maybe better as Clueless, but definitely worth a watch. 6/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

Sense & Sensibility - Best performances ever from everyone involved, in all aspects - directing, acting, writing, scoring, dialogue. A most compelling multiple love story with twists, turns, wit, wisdom, fantasy, reality, and a slew of lessons. 10/10 overall, 10/10 in genre.

Doom - Space marines and hot chick enter science/military facility and kill/get killed by evil things - I kept wanting Aliens but didn't get a quarter of that masterpiece. Still worth seeing for the Rock (i'd like to see him and Ice Cube in a movie together), the cinematography, and the FX. 4/10 overall, 6/10 in genre.

The Constant Gardener - Corporations are evil and only hippies care about 3rd world countries - tell me something i don't know. Decent enough stylised movie with an interesting storyline whose ending you know you're going to hate. 7/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

Lord of War - Once you get over Cage, it's a great movie about gun running. Compelling story, actors, cinematography, but sometimes the plot winds in the wrong directions. 7/10 overall, 8/10 in genre.

Immortel - why do i keep watching French flicks? Unworthy FX, wandering storyline, mediocre acting in a futuristic world where egyptian aliens show up to have sex with mutants. Why do i keep watching French flicks? 2/10 overall, 4/10 in genre.

Howard's End - Good love/social criticism period piece with powerful performances from Hopkins and Thompson, but both can do better. The title word "End" teases the mind as the story drags at times. 7/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

Empire of the Wolves - Reno action movie that was horribly dubbed. Decent action sequences and pretty scenery, all in all a good waste of time. 5/10 overall, 6/10 in genre.

Heavenly Creatures - Watch for the moment Jackson grows out of Bad Taste style and into LotR style. Lynskey and Winslet work wonderfully together in this true murder tale. 7/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

The Cat Returns - In your face (moral-wise) child's tale from Studio Ghibli. Lacks depth, subtlety of other Ghibli work, but it wasn't directed by Master Miyazaki. 6/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

Murderball - documentary about quadraplegic rugby. Very straightforwardly factual, therefore very good. Well shot, well cut. 7/10 overall, 9/10 in genre.

Fantastic Four - better than Daredevil superhero flick with good Chiklis, mediocre everything else. Does what it needs to plot-wise, FX-wise, character-wise, but doesn't do any more. 5/10 overall, 6/10 in genre.

The Brothers Grimm - Gilliam's worst movie. For the equal in humour, action, wit, and plot, but a more worthy movie overall, rent Eurotrip instead. 4/10 overall, 5/10 in genre.

Broken Flowers - Follow Murray's past lovelife around the country. Dziena's full frontal is within the first hour, you don't miss anything if you stop watching after that, though if you enjoy either Jarmusch or Murray (both have done better), watch the rest. 6/10 overall, 6/10 in genre.

Serenity - Thankfully it's not Nemesis, unfortunately it's not Wrath. The plot is underwhelming, FX decent enough, storyline expects a lot from the viewer, acting is a bit forced - in other words, typical scifi flick. I thought Whedon was revolutionary. 5/10 overall, 7/10 in genre.

City of God - Great movie; the gimmicky timeline isn't necessary but doesn't hurt. Good acting, directing, filming, and compelling story which juggles its many characters quite well. Be sure to watch the dvd's documentary for some choice quotes/viewpoints on drugs, guns and the role of police in Brazilian society. 9/10 overall, 10/10 in genre.