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Blazer21
Reviews
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Entertaining and charming at times, but clichéd-riddled and predictable Romantic Comedy
I get a kick out of reading the reviews before, but mainly after I see a movie. Especially when I am "against the grain" with a poor review vs. the masses.
How this movie could score a perfect "10" by some is beyond me, but to each his own. It is mostly entertaining, at times charming, and has a couple of great characters ( Corey Stall as Hemingway and Adrien Brody as Dali ). The Paris backdrop is beautiful and the time-travel concept is always fun. But the plot is rather simplistic and the main characters are riddled with clichéd lines and all too common roles.
For starters, Gil and Inez had no business being a couple in the first place, let alone being engaged. And her parents characters could not have been more predictable and over-done. Absolutely no effort to make them interesting. And as one reviewer wrote, I also picked out the girl Gil would end up with, from the moment she appeared on the screen.
The movie is not bad. I would give it 6.5/10, but it is not up to "Match Point" or "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". It just wasn't worth the theatre price. Thank goodness we had dinner just before the show and saved on popcorn and soda!
The War (2007)
Outstanding!
As a Canadian I found that "The War", as told through the eyes and lives of people from four USA cities, is nonetheless every bit as important a documentary,and should be required viewing, regardless of nationality. The approach taken by Ken Burns was perfect. This film gives the viewer, not only an intense and important history lesson of WWII, but provides the backdrop of American society during those times. The stories re-lived and told by veterans, their families, and of course, Al McIntosh, Rock County Star-Herald, are deeply moving and quite simply, so very interesting. The archival footage - film, photography, and print is an amazing collection that will bring you to tears. Thank you Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and all the other collaborators. Outstanding work to be shared,hopefully, for generations to come.
Over the Hedge (2006)
Lots of fun for all ages - and I've found most animated films lately to be lame
I liked this film a lot. After reading the decent reviews here, I went in with high expectations and wasn't disappointed at all. Such a breath of fresh air after Ice Age - The Meltdown, which should be "The Letdown" - a lame formula of a movie which dragged out every cliché in the book. Ugh! No match for the original. Enough of that.
I'm here to talk about Over the Hedge! It is original, funny, well-paced and very easy to sit through with my twelve year-old daughter and friend. We all laughed throughout the movie. They laughed at some of the jokes, but mainly at the usual silliness and cute animal antics. I laughed at the endless references cynically poking fun at life in the suburbs in 2006. And to watch William Shatner be William Shatner, Shandling to be Shandling. Great fun! Highly recommended for dads, moms, and of course, children of all ages. For once I actually wish they made an animated film a bit longer.
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Brutally Painful to Watch Sequel
First things first. I really enjoyed Spy Kids! The FIRST movie. Cute, funny, original, made a bit of sense, and moved along nicely.
Our group of seven who paid good money to view this crap ( Spy Kids 2 ), included two adults, and five children aged 7-12. Only the two youngest children thought this movie was fun. The rest of us were not at all entertained. Adults be warned, this is painful ( and too long ) to sit through, and we agonized for the ending. Not that you could even see the end coming. It's one of those movies full of "bits and pieces" of high-tech gadgets and special effects that add absolutely nothing to the storyline ( and I use the word "story" loosely ). The plot is very weak.
The acting was terrible, the characters unlikeable, and the conflicts they tried to develop between "good" and "bad" were hopelessly unbelievable.
Finally, to cap it off, they throw in the typical meddling and unfunny grandparents who don't think Gregorio Cortez is good enough for their daughter. More unoriginal and lame dialogue.
Stay away or pay a babysitter to take children under aged 8 only. Easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen.
2/10 - and that "2" is because those under aged 8 may like it.
Cats & Dogs (2001)
Painful Hour and a Half Watching this Stinker
Although going in with pretty low expectations, I figured my seven year old daughter and her friend would enjoy this movie.
Wrong!
As an adult, this movie was painful to watch - and I enjoy GOOD children's films. I think this film tried to be funny for both children and adults but failed on both counts. The "adult" humour never came close to to making me laugh, while the kids seemed bored for practically the entire ( long ) length.
Don't bother, or at least wait for the video. It won't take long. What possessed Jeff Goldblum to get involved with this stinker?
3/10