Reviews
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Might be good if they snip an hour out
Went to see this with my heavily pregnant wife hoping to take her mind off the aches and pains. Unfortunately, it had quite the opposite effect.
I was a big fan of Transformers in the 80s and 90s. I liked the first movie, though I don't find LeBoeuf particularly watchable. I like some Bay movies (Bad Boys, The Rock, Armegeddon) and hated others (Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys II).
This film was long. Way too long. It's almost 2 1/2 hours that could have easily, easily, been 45-60 minutes shorter. There are so many slow-motion shots of people diving away from explosions, or screaming aloud, or just doing nothing interesting that they could have saved 20 minutes just by taking those out.
Most of the characters are ridiculous, especially LeBoeuf's Sam. He has to be one of the most unlikable main characters to appear in any blockbuster in living memory. The rest of the characters are all stupid, and wait around to have things explained to them that the audience have already guessed.
The fight scenes are almost genius. If you're wondering what 2 giant robots slugging it out looks like, you will get your answers here. The 'choreography' of the fights is much better than the first movie. However, and I'm sure it's been noted before me, it's hard to work out who is fight who amid the noise and blur of steel on steel. In the final battle especially, you can't work out who is an Autobot and who is a Decepticon.
The romance sub-plot is pretty poor, Sam's roommate is another annoying character. John Turturro almost saves the day until he spews out some pretty bad lines.
If you're going to see this in the same frame of mind that you watched Charlies Angels in, then you might enjoy it. I was going just hoping to see a match of the first movie. Sadly, it's not nearly as enjoyable.
Taken (2008)
very good popcorn flick, could've been even better
I went with very few expectations, despite being a fan of Neeson and Besson. I came out pleasantly surprised. The film is very much in the Bourne trilogy mold - Neeson's character is a been-there-seen-it-all former CIA agent who knows all the tricks and is also a dab hand at dispatching henchmen quickly and effectively.
Another reviewer (while giving the movie 1/10) noted all the clichés in the movie. That is true, pretty much everyone is a composite of previous action movie stock characters. The acting is pretty wooden at times, and Neeson's American accent (as usual) doesn't overly impress.
I say above "could've been even better" and sadly it does seem like this was an opportunity missed to make a movie that would challenge Bourne. Sadly it falls short there. The action is excellent, Neeson is a very believable tough guy, though the audience I watched it with laughed towards the end when his character takes on almost-superhuman powers.
The film offers a very brief glimpse into the world of sex traffickers but you get the sense that Neeson's character doesn't care about any of these women except his daughter. I think in the end that saves the movie - Neeson doesn't try to save the world, he only wants to save one person and will do pretty much anything to achieve that.
Highly recommended, but don't expect any daring social commentary, just sit back and enjoy, while wondering why Liam Neeson has never tried his hand at any role of this sort before.
Jumper (2008)
Good idea, but poorly executed
I'm a big science fiction fan, and was very intrigued by the idea for "Jumper". Samuel L. Jackson always lends credibility and I was interested to see Hayden Christensen for the first time since Star Wars ( I haven't seen "Awake" yet). I persuaded a friend to come with me based on the special effects in the trailer.
The plot goes much like this; Boy discovers he has the power to teleport himself. Boy learns to control his powers. Boy lives idyllic life of leisure and travel until he discovers that people are chasing him, and that he is caught up in a war between people who can teleport, and those who hunt them.
Unfortunately, "Jumper" isn't much more than a geography tour. The story is well laid out, and the main character behaves in a believable way. if you've ever imagined having the power of teleportation, you will buy into this premise big time.
Sadly, the movie fails to build on that premise, and action sequences aside is quite boring. My friend fell asleep! There is no chemistry whatsoever between David and Milly, and their romantic relationship is unrealistic.
Jackson plays the same character he always does, Rooker is under-utilized although Jamie Bell adds some much-needed momentum when he arrives.
All-in all if you want to leave your brain at home for a night, Jumper might be for you, but I would recommend waiting for the DVD.
Tango (1981)
Fascinating
This short takes your breath away, as you wonder how on earth he could have produced it, and all the while trying to keep up with the action on screen.
Technically brilliant, but also offers an insight into Polish culture (and communism as a whole) and bears repeated viewing, in fact demands it
Gangs of New York (2002)
not up there with Scorcese's best
This was a little disappointing but only because we have come to expect so much from Martin Scorcese.
The acting is terriffic, even di Caprio and Diaz are believable, but Day-Lewis steals the show, and Neeson is also excellent.
The movie is a little over-long. Time is spent trying to establish a feel for the times, and events outside of our little story. While this adds to the historical element of the film, it takes away from the movie, as we are waiting to get back to "the main" story.
Overall, well worth seeing, and kudos to Scorcese for bringing a 'new' story to our tired eyes.
Dalmaya nolja (2001)
Formulaic, but full of laughs
This is one of the better movies to come from the Korea gangster-comedy genre that currently proliferates Korean cinema and international sections of video stores everywhere.
I find English speaking people have less patience with subtitles than foreign audiences do with our movies, especially for comedies, and while a lot of the original humor is cultural and lost in the translation, there are enough visual jokes to keep most happy here.
The acting is top-notch, and for a cultural insight into Buddhism, it's worth checking out.
Recommended 8/10
Heist (2001)
this is 2 hours I'll never get back!!
I saw the cast for this movie, and read the slick summary on the video case and was fooled. This was absolute rubbish of the highest order. I was even more shocked at the end to discover it was a David Mamet film, who is one of my favorite directors.
The movie has some good ideas but is ruined by some of the most unbelievable dialogue and wooden acting I have ever had the misfortune to watch. It is unintentionally funny listening to these people pretending to be thieves.
Also I'm not an action freak, and I like movies where violence occurs off screen but here it looks like it was done just to save money and the shootout at the end is seemingly populated by puppets on strings.
Also the twists...One twist is good, two is very good, but three is over the top. i counted at least 4 million in this movie.
If you are a fan of Mamet, you should see this just so you appreciate his good movies even more. TO Hackman, Lindo and De Vito, it shouldn't be about the pay cheque at this stage of your careers, choose movies with at least some quality.