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Reviews
Miami Vice (2006)
Some horror movies have less violence that this one...
Seriously, I don't remember one time in my life I found a movie enough violent that it bothered me.
This one on the other hand is probably one of the most violent movies I've seen in all time. Should do well at the box office, but gee, could it have been any more violent? Some people were laughing about it out loud in the theatre.
One of the biggest problem in this movie is how low-profile Jamie Foxx is, but I guess it was the point too, everybody remembers Don Johnson more than Phillip Michael Thomas (and I would need to check because I'm not even sure it was his name) The plot, well, not as original as it could be, but how original can a drug dealer movie be? The movie itself is wonderfuly done, super imagines, good action packed, perfect popcorn movie, but not with the kids please ;)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The link is done!
What can I say, it's actually the first Star Wars movie that I actually enjoyed watching.
Of course, I might have liked the first one, but I was way too young when they were out to the theatre, and I remember seeing Episode 6 on VHS! old times.
But this one was truly well done... the CGI are so good, you don't even notice them! They look too real.
Of course, now watching the 4-5-6 would be spoiled, as you know the big secrets ;) A shame really that Lucas said no to 7-8-9... that would have been a treat!
The Village (2004)
What did you expect?
It's not the first time a movie by M. Night Shatamalan (sp?) has a trailer that doesn't reflect exactly the movie.
Where can you see in the Unbreakable trailer that this is a movie about comic books? I learned it in the first minute of the movie, but I wasn't aware before that, even seeing the trailers.
Going into a movie from this directory, you HAVE to think "there will be a twist", but you are just plain stupid if you are trying to guess it before the end, you want to spoil your experience, don't you?
I never saw it coming, but the worst part is, I didn't even notice that we were *WARNING SPOILERS* in actual time when she got on the road... it took me a minute... didn't had the same effect on me as the other twists in the other Shatamalan movies, but after thinking about the whole movie, it was a pretty good ending, you now know you have to watch it again to see all the clues you were stupid enough not to notice.
I must admit that when I saw the feast scene, I said to myself "Funny, this could be in modern time, they don't look too old fashioned", but it never clicked in my head that this was in modern time.
Plus, the more I read comments (good ones, not negative ones, I can understand why some people felt cheated due to the trailer, but nevertheless, it doesn't make the movie BAD), I now think the best one is the one that notices that the camera from the wood where people are scared, it looks exactly like if they were scared of us, watching them, through the screen...
I won't say it's M. Night Shatamalan's best, but I'm trully a fan of his movies, and I can't wait for more. This is the type of movie that could get oscar nominations, the cinematography is quite amazing, the costumes and scenes makes you feel truly in 1897, and well, Adrian Body's performance is worthy of an best supporting actor nomination for sure... I truly hope this guy will get a big shot at leading roles, he diserves it, even if he's not Brad Pitt nor Tom Cruise.
So what can you say? You can love it, or hate it.. myself, I'm not sure.. I can't say if I liked it or not, but one thing for sure, I didn't dislike it... but there are still elements of that movie that I don't get, as why they have decided that the color red would be banned, and yellow would be a safe color, plus, I have problems to believe that teenagers wouldn't venture in those woods.. we're all idiots at this age...
Oh well, time will tell me if I loved it or not, but sure thing is, i wasn't disappointed...
Lost in Translation (2003)
Why is this considered a good movie?
Maybe it's because you actually feel like you are on jet-lag while watching it?
Seriously, I've seen a lot of movie, but NOTHING happens in this one, and when I mean nothing, it's NOTHING...
You sit through it, but you expect something to happen, and it doesn't really.
I found also why I was a bit annoyed by this movie, there is a total lack of musical score, which might have helped, although that was probably intentional...
But I'll have to ask why this movie is winning so many prizes, what did I miss? I've seen better movies than this one this year, is it purely because it's Francis Ford Copolla's daughter?
Chicago (2002)
Why?
Alright, it's entertaining, it's very well done, but...
If you remove all the musical numbers, what's left of this movie? the actual "movie" part in this movie is quite weak.. the plot is seriously too short to even call this a movie.
Perfect for a musical, but in the movie world, it's not really brain challenging.
I've seen The Pianist, Gangs of New York, Lord of the Rings 2 and The Hours, it's the last I've seen from this list, and honestly, I don't get why it won.
I guess many people in the academy love musicals, I don't.. even as a child I wondered why the disney movies had those songs that you just want to skip, so I'm not a musical fan at all, I'm a movie fan.
For some reason last year I liked Moulin Rouge, so I gave Chicago a try.. well I'm sorry, but this wouldn't have been my pick for the movie of the year.. The Pianist would have been...
Guilty by Association (2003)
False publicity
When I saw the movie at the video club, I said it looks exactly like "Along came a spider" and "kiss the girls", it's with Morgan Freeman, it should be good.
Well, what a disappointment, this movie looks like a college project, nothing else.. very very bad filming, and not to help, one of the worst french translation I've ever heard..
It's total crap, I should have asked for my money back.
After the movie ended (yes, I watched it completely, I said Morgan Freeman would do something somewhere, in vain), I checked the DVD extra and watched the trailer, oh my god, the trailer shows ALL scenes with Morgan Freeman.. looks like he's the main actor of the movie!!!
False publicity, plus this attrocity last only 70 mins...
The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003)
Trying to pull a Psycho here?
I mean, come on, chances were, a follow-up from the Hitcher, out a long time, there is no chance kids today know this movie, and they are the public for horror movies.
*Spoilers*
I remember the first one with C. Thomas Howell and Rugther Hower (sp?) back a long time ago, and I was curious, since I saw C. Thomas Howell was playing in it, I mean, I said "He's still alive?".. I saw many movies with this guy as a kid that I liked, so I rented it.
But what was the point of having him killed at the middle of the movie? I just didn't get that one!
Plus, we never know where Jack is from.. and why he was there the exact date Jim goes back to Texas...? At least a phone taping/son relation would have made it more credible...
Let's face it, this won't be remembered too long, it's typical, but there are too many things in there that just doesn't make sense.. which might be normal in this type of movie, but come on, at least get a story...
The storm was supposed to be for a few days, it disappears, the exact moment they get to Texas everything goes wrong, the man can't explain why he doesn't want to get the hitcher on board to his girlfriend after what happened...
Oh well... not really worth watching...!!
Adaptation. (2002)
Hum
I don't know if many people "got" this movie, but I'd like to give my own point of view.
--- SPOILERS ---
The first part is Charlie's scenario, and the last part is Donald's scenario..
You see a car chase, a killer which is a man AND a woman, but since you can't see both at the same moment, they had to put both, and the dual personality is of course, the TWINS.
This is why the end is so different from the rest of the movie, the authors were trying to show us an hollywood ending, with a happy ending...
The author in the movie tries to avoid any Hollywood clichés, but finally ends up doing one himself.. which is the cynism in that movie..
I must say, it's a weird movie, but I was laughing many times at Cage's caracters, it's a truly BRILLANT performance for Nicolas Cage, and I'm really happy for him..
I saw many people leave the theatre before the end, seems they weren't aware of what they were going to see.. if you have seen Being John Malkhovic (sp?), you know what to expect..
Minority Report (2002)
Pretty good movie, but...
Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie, I don't think it diserves the 8.5 that it currently have, but it's a good movie.
=-= spoilers ahead =- The *thing* that keeps in my head since I've seen it is, how come the precogs have seen the murder done by Anderton when their vision *IS* the reason why he could have committed that murder?
Without him seeing that, would he have found and killed the guy? The precog also saw Agatha in that room.
This is the only thing I just don't get about this movie, how can your vision is the reason why what's happening in your vision is true...!
Other than that, the movie is great and worth seeing, but this is just a minor thing I had a problem with!
Rock Star (2001)
Bring back the 80s!
Actually, this is not a bad movie.
But the problem with this kind of movie is, that it won't interest people other than those who grew up in the 80s.
Yes, the story is cliché, no wonder about that, but it could have happened today (after all, all boys band are wannabe who got hired to play the dummy and sing for a manager), but since it's located in the 80s with rock bands (do people really classify this as metal? Hard Rock ok, but metal? please..)
But, just like the movie "The Wedding Singer", you get in this movie and you suddenly miss the 80s, and how fun it was back then.
So, don't go see this movie if you want a serious movie, go to this movie if you wish to be entertained and have a bit of nostalgia.
As for the acting, I like Mark Whalberg, and it's an interesting choice of actor, because he's actually, well, you know, the brother of Danny Wahlberg of NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, which is one of the "boys band" of the 90s who was a manager creation, so maybe he got input from his brother... but we all know Mark Whalberg is a former hip-hop artist, I guess it's the only kind of music he can sings, if they didn't use his vocals on this movie... then maybe I'm wrong, but I sure know on the soundtrack it's not him!
As for the music itself, it's really up to the level of those hair bands in the 80s, you can seriously swap those songs with Bon Jovi or Motley Crue and it would do. I must say that's it's almost a shame they put that "metal" chorus on "We All Die Young", because that song is radio hit potential.
As for comparing this movie to Almost Famous, well, maybe it's another rock band, but no, this one is a best entertainment than Almost Famous, but Almost Famous is more original and more "serious".
Cast Away (2000)
Good, except for the publicity
== this is meant for people who saw the movie = Overall, I would say I enjoyed this movie. It's been a while since a 2h30 film didn't seem long and I didn't complain about the chair.. since The Green Mile actually, but that's another story.
It's a good movie, but yes, it could have been better. Before I went to see this movie, I was pretty sure it would be a movie to make money out of the "Survivor" wave, but it's a little different than I tought. But I would have liked to see more of the life on the island instead of the beginning and the end.. his suicide attempt for instance, and more... That movie should have been 3 hours, it would have been worth it.
Many people didn't see the package on the raft, well, look again, it's used as a pillow and with a lot of videotape around it, it's there all the way...
But again, why didn't he open it? That's another part of the very annoying publicity in this movie, the reason why this package saved his life is because it gave him a REASON to live.. this package and his fiancee, he kept this package because he wanted to deliver it, and the photo of his fiancee also. I don't see another reason.
But again, I was a little sick of seeing overuse of publicity in this movie.. FedEx, Dr Pepper, Wilson, come on.. we are paying to go see those movies, cut the prices if you want to add publicity in the movie, this way we'll agree. This is enough to keep me using UPS as a courier service...!
Seriously, I found that part of the movie very annoying.. having a fake company would've been better.
But besides that, that was a good movie, but I would have liked to see more from it.. I found it too short, even for a 2h30 movie...
My 2 cents, enjoy!
The Cell (2000)
A new Dreamspace
When I saw the trailer saying it's "The Matrix meets Silence of the Lambs", it pushed me to go see this movie.
Well, on second thoughts, this would be more a reason for special effects than for a never seen plot.
If you have seen the movie Dreamscape with Dennis Quaid, this movie has a lot in common with it. Except that Jennifer Lopez goes in the mind of people, not in dreams.
- spoilers alert -
The movie is well done, but so highly predictable.. we all knew when they talked about the 3rd chair that Vince Vaughn would jump in somehow, we all knew they would find the girl when the level was right at the top..
There is NOTHING you can't predict in that movie. If you have less than 25 years old, you probably will like it because you haven't seen Dreamspace, but if I remember right, Dreamscape for a 80's movie was superior.
New Order Story (1993)
A great way to learn about New Order
Beware, this movie is actually sold in 2 different ways, one for the USA, and one for the rest of the world. The USA version is only half of the time.
On the Canadian version, you will also find the music videos for the following songs:
Transmission, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Ceremony, Temptation, Blue Monday, Touched by the Hand of God, Bizarre Love Triangle, Confusion, Shellshock, State of the Nation, Perfect Kiss, True Faith, Round & Round, World In Motion, Fine Time, Regret, Temptation (Live), Everyone Everywhere (Live), Ruined In A Day, World and Atmosphere
Overall, it's a good way to learn about New Order.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Kubrick at his best!
This is the type of movie you go, it lasts 3 hours and if it wasn't because you can't find a way to sit after 2 hours, you wouldn't have noticed the movie was that long since time flees without you noticing it.
Eyes Wide Shut will be an Oscar nominee, you can bet on this. For one time, I'm pretty sure Stanley Kubrick will end up being a nominee for best director.. since there isn't many movies out for the year, you can't guess which will win, but this is the type of movie that can..
This is one of the last movie that doesn't cut corners to get 90 mins or 120 mins max. Yes, there is scenes that could've been shorter, and scenes that could've been reworked to remove useless parts, but hey, there is no scene in this movie that are actually boring..
In some words, this is a sexy movie about a guy who discovers his wife's fantasies and live them in one single night.. the kind of weird night you don't see often..
My only thumb down on this movie is the fact that it has been censored for the USA, and ended up censored in Canada too because we are considered as the US domestic market here.. I don't like people telling me what I can or cannot see. This movie is rated PG-13 in Canada for example, while in the US it's R-Rated.. and everybody else outside North America will get the full version!
So, basically, this is the kind of movie to go see with your partner, it's good, it's sexy and you shouldn't regret it unless some real language and sex offends you!
And now I need to know where I can go to parties like that :-)
The Matrix (1999)
Excellent Sci-Fi Thriller, not only a F/X movie!
I just came back from the movie, and the only feeling I have is... "Wow".. was that great!
I went to see the movie with only the TV publicity in mind and a good comment from a friend, but I didn't really know what the movie was about. That did it all, I didn't know at all what was going to happen and I was pleasantly surprised for 2h and more.
I have to be honest, I had the last Keanu Reeves' sci-fi movie in mind (Johnny Mnemonic) so that almost stopped me from going.. believe me, it's two worlds!
This was one of the most original city I've seen. The only movie which is close to this in terms of feeling would be the movie "Dark City" (1998), but that one is far superior.
I am recommending this movie to all people who likes to be surprised in a movie, and do like a little sci-fi, even if this is NOT the main attract to the movie.
Laurence Fishburn is good as usual, and Keanu Reeves is like he's always.
Go see it and you won't be disappointed.
8MM (1999)
Dark Movie, but very original and good!
When I was watching 8mm, all I knew from it was the trailer and the fact that Nicholas Coppola, hum, sorry.. Cage of course ;-) was playing in it.
Well, since Leaving Las Vegas, he didn't do a bad movie, so let's go watch it. It's the kind of movie you actually don't know if you liked it or not when it ends, but after a while you realise it was quite good. Why? Because it left you shivering and THINKING.
While I was watching the movie, the only movie that made me feel like this was Seven, I then decided to look in the IMDB to check if it was related to find it was written by the same guy..
So, to my opinion, even if I thought I saw everything Hollywood had to offer, this is the kind of movie that lets me know there is still people doing original movies and not focusing on happy ending. Glad to see there is still people like this.
If you are disturbed by the subject, maybe you shouldn't see the movie, but this is the kind of thing that happens in real life, maybe not that extreme of course, it's a movie, but you can find most of this stuff over the Internet quite easily, this makes you really think about how sick some people are.
And as a final word, on the funny side.. people who talked about throwing up, you sure miss a lot of horror movies to get that feeling when watching a movie ;-)
The Jackal (1997)
Not the best movie of those guys
Actually, this movie is a total déjà-vu, there is nothing new you can see in this movie and you can predict the end when it's starting. This is the biggest problem in Hollywood movies these days, they want to make MONEY instead of good movies with something original, like in the previous Gere movie Primal Fear.
The only funny side of the movie is because I realized in the middle of the movie that it was filmed in Montréal, so I recognized the metro stations and the exterior scenes right away, and they think it will pass for New York, well ;-)