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Reviews
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
The Dead Man's Chest is still second to the Black Pearl.
First, let me say that I really, really wanted to like this movie to the fullest. I felt that the first movie was over-hyped, but good. This one is also good, but over-hyped beyond comprehension.
Will and Elizabeth are finally facing the consequences for their actions at the end of the first film. The punishment? Death. There is a chance that one of them can receive a pardon (it's never made clear which one exactly would actually get it) if Will brings to the new leader of the East India Trading Company, Lord Beckett, the compass that belongs to Captain Jack Sparrow.
Jack meanwhile, is trying to find the key to the Dead Man's Chest when he gets an unexpected (and rather creepy) visit from Bootstrap Bill Turner, Will's father. He informs Jack that the deal he made with Davey Jones thirteen years ago to raise the Black Pearl from the depths of the ocean and make him captain of it has reached its limit. His soul now belongs to Davey Jones, or else he must suffer the wrath of the Krakken. He rushes toward land, any land. Which happens to be Cannibal Island. There's a bit of a ruckus, but in the end Will has found Jack, Jack takes him to Tia Dalma (a voodoo priestess) who informs them of the importance of the Dead Man's Chest and where they can find the key to unlock it, revealing an item that might just save Jack's soul. There's much more to the plot, but it would take too long to give even a brief description of it. Long story short, Will gets the key from Davey Jones, and gets to meet his father. Norrington has had his life destroyed due to Jack Sparrow, and Elizabeth is torn inside trying to decide between Jack and Will. All this while everyone is trying to get the Dead Man's Chest and the treasure within.
This can get very confusing. The plot is a mish-mash that could have been split into another two movies. The action is what carries the weight here, and it does get very exciting (and half the time it's also very humorous). Jokes from the first film are used again, but it seems more in line of continuity then lack of originality.
The big problems with this one include some slow pacing (we really didn't need the whole Cannibal Island sequence), some rather violent images (sometimes this felt like a sailor's horror movie), and the general darker tone to this compared to the first film. It's just not quite as fun.
If you're a good ol' rumrunner that is looking for adventure on the high seas fighting against the paranormal of the briny deep aided by astonishing visual effects and can follow many, many plot lines woven (loosely) into one that feels like it relies on two big names and tremendous action sequences to be a success, then this is a movie for you. If, however, you prefer a story that focuses more on characters, is easier to follow and has a more upbeat tone to it, I recommend you sail for different waters. Savvy?
Superman Returns (2006)
Well, he's back. And I for one am very happy.
This might contain some slight spoilers. This a thoroughly enjoyable movie. I kept my expectations low, just in case, and I was very pleasantly surprised by what I saw.
Superman's been gone for five years, thinking that Krypton might have survived, at least partially. We learn, however, that his trip was all for naught. It was a graveyard, and now he has to get used to the changes that have transpired on Earth while he was away, including the fact that Superman is nearly forgotten and that the world, especially Lois Lane, who now is in a prolonged engagement and has a son, has moved on. After bringing himself back into the public eye after a brilliantly executed plane-rescue, however, he quickly becomes sought-after once again. He manages to break through the bitterness that Lois has developed in his absence, becoming a hero to her and the rest of the planet once more.
But of course, what would Superman be without a super-villain? Lex is back, ready for a new plot for real-estate. He and his henchmen make their way back to the Fortress of Solitude, where a holographic Jor-El tells Lex Luthor everything he needs to know about the crystals he is about to steal. He is going to use them to create an entirely new continent, destroying North America and killing billions of people. And when all is said and done and his land is the only piece that will be hospitable, he'll make more money then he ever dreamed. But with the return of Superman, he also sees the chance to take revenge on the man who took away five years of his life, by making his second try with the crystals turn into a giant island of Kryptonite. The stage is set, and Lex is ready for anything, particularly against a certain man who is most vulnerable to a long, sharp piece of Kryptonite.
This performed beyond what I expected. The flight sequences were astounding, the story was captivating, and the whole thing flowed quite nicely. For Christians it also has an extra layer to it, for the movie is not even trying to hide the allegory that Superman has to the true Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The action bits were intense, particularly when Superman comes onto the new island and ends up with a very nasty surprise. However, the story gets very intense in the places where it's most serious, so I wouldn't recommend this for younger viewers. I also took off two stars due to the fact that Lois is shown having a child outside of wedlock, and there's a bit with two dogs that is a little disturbing.
In short, a great movie to revitalize a hero that has been "missing" for nearly twenty years. Superman does indeed return, with an astounding entry that leaves you begging for more while putting in many homages to the whole Superman mythos. Whether you're an old-time Superman fan or just someone who is looking for a good movie, this is excellent. I highly recommend it for nearly anyone. I hope that Superman's not only returned, but is here to stay.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Aslan is definitely on the move.
OK, this review is going to be based on a Christian perspective, so if you don't like what I'm saying, I do apologize in advance if I offend you.
OK, a witch, magic potion, spells that can cause long winters and turn beings into stone, mythical creatures such as satyrs, minotaurs, centaurs, griffins and the like along with a boatload of talking animals. What could possibly separate this from such occult movies like Harry Potter? One word, Aslan.
The movie starts out in the 1940's, with the bombings over London happening. To escape these, four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy have been sent to the England countryside. while there, they enter a wardrobe that magically seems to disappear the farther in you go into a wooded area in a world called Narnia. A world ruled by a cruel White Witch who has cast a spell that causes Narnia to be in winter forever, but never Christmas. Lucy, the youngest, was told early in the story of a White witch who ruled like she was queen, and of the spell that caused a hundred year winter and no Christmas. Edmund meets the White Witch, and unwittingly betrays his brother and sisters to her. a Beaver family explains to the rest of them that the Witch is afraid of a prophecy that says that four human children, two boys and two girls will take the throne and defeat the White Witch. They must now seek help from the one creature in all of Narnia that could possibly help them against such evil. Aslan, lord of the wood and the king of beasts.
This is a wonderful adaptation from C.S. Lewis' classic book. Whether you like it or not, it is a Christian movie. C.S. Lewis didn't make a direct allegory, but made a supposition in the person of Aslan. What if there was a world where mythical creatures lived and talking animals existed? And what if God sent his son there in the form of a lion? Aslan is the animal representation of Jesus. And he is what makes this movie such an excellent piece of cinematography. And there is a battle, a dynamic battle between good and evil. The White Witch is perfectly portrayed, an almost beautiful, but cold evil that wishes to rule and destroy.
The casting is perfect, and the effects are phenomenal. Nothing is really lost from the book that went into this movie. It even adds some characterization that adds very nicely to the movie. The battle scenes are epic and the most wonderful moment, morning at the Stone Table, is magnificent. I recommend this movie just as much as I recommend the Lord of the Rings. They are both wonderful fantasy stories that you can draw many Christian ideals from (or even just good morals if you want). There's more that I would love to say, but I think I've held you long enough. My final words, this is a wonderful movie that I think everyone should see.
The Incredibles (2004)
As far as Computer-animation movies have been going, this one is alright.
In an imaginary world, super-heroes are real and there are apparently a lot of them with numerous types of powers. They use them for good to defend people against those who support evil, lust for destruction and have an itch for monologuing on their evil plots. But, lots of people are still unhappy with them, claiming sometimes that they didn't wanna be saved, have suffered injuries during those rescues, and so on. Super-heroes nation-wide are being sued for everything they've got. So they're put into a special government protection where their pasts are erased, identities are protected and they can live normal lives on the condition they never use their powers again. This isn't so great for Mr. Incredible (a guy whose super-power is super-strength)who misses the action, protecting the innocent and the glory. Then he gets an offer by a mysterious secretary who calls herself Mirage (which is very convenient since he's just lost his job again), but it's not all kosher as he finds out. It ends up he has to be rescued by his wife, Elllastigirl and their children, Dash (the name tells you his super-power) and Violet, who has the ability to turn invisible and project force-fields.
OK, I'd have to give it about five stars.
One star is for the animation. Pixar is very good at doing these animations, and this movie is no exception. Between the backgrounds, the explosions, and the characters, the animation is some of the best I've seen around.
The second star is for the funny moments. Unlike some other movies of this type, some of the humor isn't mind-numbing stupidity. There are some genuine humorous moments, such as when Frozone is looking for his super-suit and he's arguing his wife to find it.
The third star is for the morals. The super-heroes risk their lives to protect innocent lives. Mr. Incredible is tempted to kill Mirage to get free of the trap, but opts not to. Family is placed on a high pedestal and Mr. Incredible realizes that he shouldn't place sought-after glory of being a super hero for spending time with his family.
The fourth star is for the fact that they do a pretty decent job making fun of comic-book superheroes. From Marvel to DC, no super-power is safe from them. Flight, X-ray vision, the ability to freeze things, super-speed, the list goes on and they have a lot of fun poking fun at them all, even down to fashion ("Capes will be your downfall!"). As a superhero fan, I do like that.
The fifth star is because, well, it's just plain old better then the last one, Finding Nemo. Oy, was that a mind-melter.
If your kids enjoy superheroes, but you don't want to expose them to the life-action violence that X-men, Spider-man and Batman bring, then this is a pretty decent substitute.
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
The Dark Lord Sauron must've made this movie, 'cause it's downright EVIL!
OK, I figure, it's only fair to give you a description of both good and bad points of this film. OK, First, I'll give the good points.
The Good: Well - um, hmm. Gimme a sec here. (thinks for 3 hours) Oh! I have- Oh. Oh, no, wait. No. Hmm. A little big longer, please. (Cricket, cricket, cricket) Got nothing'.
The Bad: Gonna have to go piece by piece here...
Sauron: Let's start off with what was supposed to be the big bad villain here. And when I say supposed to be, I mean SUPPOSED to be. We don't really get to see him except in the prologue, and the rest of the time he's only eluded to a few times! The big, bad guy who's supposed to have created the ultimately evil thing is reduced to a background character.
Saruman (oh, sorry. That's "Aruman"): Somehow they convinced the Moses from "the Ten Commandments" to replace Sauron as the main menace in this cheesy movie. No joke, he looked just like Moses, only his robe didn't have the white and black stripes. His name was also supposed to be changed completely to 'Aruman', but if you listen carefully, there are several instances where you can hear him being called Saruman.
The Ringwraiths: Hobbling on screen like something from "Night of the Living Dead", they did not have the right feel at all. They moaned (literally), and their screeches (if you could call them that) left much to be desired. They also decided to go into a wardrobe change after Bree, but not for the better.
Orcs and other not-so-important nasties: The orcs are nothing but fat, black vikings complete with the helmets with those horns. If they're not vikings, then all you see are minotaurs, monkeys and misshapen men in burlap cloaks and hoods who work for Aruman. There are no Uruk-hai, only one troll who we only got to see his scaly toe, and a very badly done Watcher in the Water. These orcs are not scary nor evil.
Balrog: OK, he was supposed to be important, but like everything else, had no evil feel to it. Its mane (which I didn't picture as a lion's mane) had no flames to it, it had no flames anywhere on its body, in fact. It was about the size of a tall man and looked like it was wearing Greg's pants from the Brady Bunch! Gollum: A poor excuse for a lab skeleton. His eyes weren't done very well, (they were supposed to be kinda eerie. They weren't) the voice-actor did a bad job, and he wasn't nearly as obsessed by the Ring as he was supposed to be. Actually, it seemed more like he was a reject from an old Dracula movie. All he needed was a Transylvanian accent and more then a couple of strings hanging from his middle.
Theoden, Eowyn and Eomer: OK, starting off with Theoden. He never got cured from Worntongue's poisoning really, and his will seemed too weak to be the kind of king he was supposed to be. Eowyn and Eomer get small scenes in here, even though at least Eomer was supposed to be very important. Instead, Eomer gets reduced to about ten seconds of screen-time, and Eowyn gets fast-forwarded about twenty years and apparently is pregnant.
The Fellowship: OK, let's start with Gandalf: A ballerina was placed in for this part (he just can't stop twirling around), and he was not really portrayed as very wise. Aragorn: They turned him into a Native American who looks his age (87) and who needs a better sword and toupee'. Boromir: A viking who stole one of the orcs' helmets, needs pants, and has a rather wimpy horn. Legolas: Elf of the Chinese who's reduced from Prince of Mirkwood to Elrond's messenger boy. Gimli: Not a dwarf, but instead a short man who needs Aragorn's toupee' and better dialogue. Merry: A very stupid, fat hobbit who couldn't take any kind of pressure if he was alone. Pippin: Let's just say he was turned into a toddler who couldn't keep his hands off of different hair dyes. Sam: No longer the lovable hobbit we were supposed to have, he looks like he's about 67 and acts like he's got a donkey's brains. Frodo: Normally my favorite character, they took away his wisdom, courage and acting abilities.
The Ring: Taken from the most evil item in Middle-earth to a trivial piece of gold that looks like somebody stole it from Theoden's finger. No runes, no nothing. This item was supposed to belonged to Sauron, have corrupted Gollum, and nearly destroy Middle-earth! Instead, Frodo trades it in for a cheap wedding band whose luster is lost when if falls in the Anduin river in the beginning.
OK, I'm pretty much done ranting. Bakshi must've been high on something 'cause no one in their right mind would've made such a classic piece of literature into such a catastrophe. Had Tolkien seen this, he would've had a real big cow. And Bakshi still wanted to make his sequel how many years afterward? There's a reason the plug was pulled! In essence, avoid this at all costs. It'll turn your brain to mush. But, if you by some twisted chance of really bad luck happen to find this in your possession, do what Frodo was supposed to do with the Ring: THROW IT IN A VOLCANO! You'll enjoy watching it burn more then watching it run.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Always on the move.... *Beware of spoilers!!!!!!!!!*
This is one excellent movie!!! The effects, the story, the action, it was tremendous! The story opens up over the home-world of Coruscant. Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been summoned to help stop the attack and save Chancellor Palpatine who has been kidnapped and taken onto one of the enemy ships by the movie's new enemy, General Grievous (a half droid, half alien commander). When Anakin and Obi-Wan find Palpatine, they have to confront Count Dooku, the guy who sliced off Anakin's arm in the last film. Obi-Wan is knocked out and it's down to Anakin and Dooku. In his anger, Anakin chops off Dooku's arms before slicing off his head with his own lightsaber. The Dark Lord of the Sith now had to look for a new apprentice. And he has someone in mind.
After that, we find out that Padme is pregnant with Anakin's child. He says that he's happy, but he has dark dreams of her dying in childbirth. He becomes desperate to save her, claiming that he would be nothing without her.
Meanwhile, Anakin's relationship with the Jedi Council is becoming estranged. He has been appointed by the Chancellor to be his representative on the council, and the Jedi accept him but don't promote him to the rank of Jedi Master, which he deems extremely unfair. The rest of the movie becomes considerably darker after this....
This is by far the best installment of the Star Wars new trilogy. It wasn't nearly as bad violence-wise as I thought it would be (tho the fighting is still extremely intense, not appropriate for small children) and the acting, while still suffering from some bad delivery, is better then some people have deemed it the past few years. Even the girl who plays Padme was able to deliver some of her lines well.
The effects hardly need mentioning. Star Wars has become notorious for having some of the best effects out there, and, while still not up to par with Lord of the Rings, are still outstanding. The Starship battles, creatures, the fighting scenes (much of it does have to be CG. There's no way you can get Christopher Lee to jump, do a somersault in the air, and then land squarely on his two feet without risking some serious back injury) and of course lightsabers and backgrounds are done better then in any other of the SW movies.
The movie still suffers from skewed theology, which everyone has become accustomed to. Its highest peak of incorrectness is when Obi-Wan tells Anakin that only a Sith deals in absolutes. Not only does it attack many religions including Christianity for its "single-mindedness", but it's contradictory since the Jedi seem to be absolutely devoted to protecting good and also seem to be absolutely sure that the Sith and their ways are evil. Also, it's saying that it's absolutely wrong to deal with absolutes. See how confusing it is? But ultimately, it's a satisfying thrill-ride that finishes the story of Anakin Skywalker and begins the tale of Darth Vader. It sets up for the original trilogy done in the 70's and 80's while giving the viewers the satisfaction that they haven't just wasted their money unless you're a stickler who does not accept some wooden acting in the least. The Force is indeed, strong with this one.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Coulda been better, but the Force is still with it. Or is it?
The second prequel to the original star wars trilogy, is ten years after Ep I, the Phantom Menace. Anakin is progressing well in his studies, and Padme is no longer Queen of Naboo, but Senator and representative of her planet alongside Jar Jar Binx in the Galactic Republic.
But there's a lot of unrest. The Seperatist's numbers are growing, and there seems to be some new threats lurking in the dark corners of the galaxy...
Overall, it's an OK movie, although almost everyone you talk to will agree that this is probably the worst of all the Star Wars movies. It would definitely have been better, but the actor they got for Padme was just cheesy. She couldn't deliver a line correctly to save herself from a raging Rancor Beast. Also, the movie was 2/3 dependent on its special effects to be successful, instead of also going for the emotion and storyline everyone has known and loved from Star Wars. Or at least, they expect a lot more from them.
But don't get me wrong, this is a very good movie. The effects are phenomenal, except for one scene where it looks like a video game. The music is still up to par with all the other Star Wars, and of course, everyone loves seeing Jar Jar and R2-D2. C-3PO even got some good moments.
All in all, it's really only a movie for computer geeks or Star Wars fans. Otherwise, you might be disappointed.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
This is fun!
Based on the book 'Skipping Christmas', Tim Allen's latest movie is about a stingy accountant and his wife who are planning to skip Christmas because they're daughter's with the Peace Corps, and they wanna save a little money and take a cruise, which will actually cost less than half of what they spent for Christmas last year. But their neighbors are aghast. Skipping Christmas? Is something like that legal? Not on Hemlock street. And when Tim refuses to put up the Frosty decoration like everyone else, that's the last straw...
This is a really good movie. Tim Allen does excellent Christmas movies, and this is his best one to date. This movie teaches about love, community, the downsides of selfishness, while showing, in a way, that Christmas has become a little too materialistic of late, though it forgets to point out why we really do celebrate December 25. But it also doesn't replace the real reason for the season with Santa, either.
Well-done, funny, only negative scene is in a tanning salon, but it's tolerable. I fully recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good, wholesome family entertainment. But beware of evil seven-foot Frosty the snowman roof ornaments!
Teen Titans (2003)
Titans! Go!
This is one great cartoon. The artistry is very well-done, the backgrounds are pretty good, and just everything about it my sister and I love!
Everyone I've heard complain about this show has one thing in common: They don't like the fact that they've mixed Batman/Superman type artistry with Japanese anime. And not for any good reasons. When they talk about anime, they talk like it's the best thing that's ever happened to media. They treat it like some sacred thing. Newsflash: IT'S NOTHING SPECIAL! It's really good and all, but stop talking like it's something to behold or worship. All it is is just another form of cartoon which I think the producers of TT have produced pretty well in an American form.
The characters are,
Robin: who we've met from Batman. He's no longer this do-what-Batman-says kid. He's gone off on his own and now leads the Teen Titans. He has some very big fights, and he's very serious. But he's fun enough to keep from being
Raven: she's the dark, mysterious and slightly Gothic member of the team. She likes to read, hang out in her room (keeping everyone else out), and meditate to keep her dark powers of telekenesis under control.
Cyborg: the half-human robot who some people may recognise from Superfriends. Well, he's changed a little. He's now a whole lot more fun to hang around and watch kick some bad guy butt. He also has no hair now as well as some cool blue computer stuff instead of just this stupid white shell.
Starfire: the alien girl from Tamaran with orange skin, long red hair, emerald green eyes, a purple tank-top and a major crush on robin. She's a little naive about earth customs, and as such she seems very sweet and innocent. She can fly and shoot starbolts from her hands (and recently, eyes). She's also extremely emotional. Oh, and if you try to take Robin out on a date, you'd better watch out when she's around.
Beast Boy: He's a short, green, and rather funny dude. He's somewhat the prankster in the tower and it sometimes winds him into some rather tight spots with his friends. He can turn into any kind of animal, and is a polar opposite from Raven. He's also developed a crush on Terra: a guest-star who has influenced the Titans in some big ways. (not gonna tell, you gotta watch)
Slade: The biggest villain ever. He doesn't let you know who he is, what he does, or how he does it. You're lucky if you even get to fight him himself and not one of his robots posing as him. He's become a very personal adversary of Robin, and lately, of Beast Boy too. No matter what the Titans do, they never seem to be able to be rid of him completely. He's always back for revenge. His motives as to why he does what he does may never be known.
So again, this is a great show. Lots of comedy, some sad moments, and great action scenes, this is terrific. Watch it please or Starfire will cry.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
He is the chosen one. He will bring balance *spoilers*
OK, this is set before the first Star Wars movie came out. It starts out with Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (one of my favorite Jedi's. If only they had given him a blue lightsaber.....). It ends up with the beginning of the Separatist movement that brings about the empire for the original Star Wars Trilogy.
It also introduces Anakin Skywalker (last name sound familiar?), the prophesied chosen one of the Force, who will bring balance to the galaxy. We also find out how C-3PO was made, what R2-D2's original career was. We also get to see the Homeworld of Coruscant( sounds like that french pastry) and also the original Jedi Council members.
The title "Phantom Menace" refers to the Sith, who were long believed to be extinct, but the Lord of the Sith survived the wars of long ago, and has been secretly dispatching his apprentice, Darth Maul (the second most famous Dark Force lightsaber wielder) to go do different tasks for him.
This movie is very good. The only downside is some bad acting. A lot of it is really good, but you just have to watch it to see who really kills it.
Very good, the most violent scene is the last lightsaber duel (it ends up with Qui-Gon getting killed and Darth Maul getting split in half), and , although the Force is still a problem, it's another thing where Christians can draw enough to tolerate it.
In any case, it's very good.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Do, or do not. There is no maybe to watching this movie.
This is definitely better then A New Hope (the first Star Wars for those of you who don't know its name). I think the thing that really made it stand above it was the appearance of Yoda. Also, I think the effects were better(just look at the battle of Hoth).
We see all the old characters, and get to see one more character who is almost just as enjoyable as Han Solo. Lando Calrissian.
Good effects (as is the always for Star Wars), good characters, a dark secret revealed (everyone knows it, but it's still considered a spoiler, so I'm not telling) and better action then the first one, this is definitely very good.
On with the rebellion!
Star Wars (1977)
Great! Don't get cocky, kid.
OK, this was a pretty good movie with some pretty good effects (just make sure you don't overwatch it, or you'll get bored with it).
The idea for Star Wars is pretty good. I loved the character of Darth Vader. I'm not saying I'm rooting for the bad guys, I'm saying that the idea of Vader is an interesting idea. I mean, think about it. The Jedi order is abolished, and the only one who is allowed to use the Force is the Sith (the dark side of the Force).
My favorite characters are Han Solo, Chewbacca and R2-D2. I like Luke too, but I don't think he became a real big big favorite until ROTJ. I also enjoyed Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The effects are fantastic, especially for its time. The aliens are interesting, the bad guys are well-done (though how humans came to be the dominant species is a little surprising. Sorry, but compared to some of the other beings I saw in the Star Wars universe, it's a little surprising). I love the lightsabers and just about everything about this movie. The only problem I have is with the Force, as pretty much all Christians do. But we're able to draw enough Christian elements out of it to tolerate it.
humor, action, and a lot of tension with Solo and Leia, very, very good. I don't know if it deserved the standing ovations it got in the theaters, but still great. A new hope indeed!
X2 (2003)
The first one was better, but this one is also great.
This is a good super-hero movie. They still had the problems that they had the problems that plagued the first one, with a little more, but I won't go into it.
Wolverine's past is still a mystery from before he met Stryker. I think it's because his mind blocks out anything that happened before he met up with Stryker. It has to do with his healing ability (apparently it's mental as well as physical, and in the comics, he did something very horrific). Cyclops taking on Jean like that was great. The idea to use Stryker's son to make that chemical (not sure if it's original or from the comics) was very smart, I thought. I notice that a lot of people I talk to also think that Storm and Kurt(Nightcrawler)have a romantic thing. I think they just have a great friendship and respect for each other.
I think that Cyclops and Prof. X were kind of underused (well, maybe not the Professor), but that was to help us ask where did they go and what the heck is Stryker up to?
This is another good movie. However, what really clinched it that the first one was better was the fact that they ended with a voice-over by Jean about the process of Evolution. This not as good as Spider-man, but it is better then Batman. Very nice. I just wish that there was another way for them to have their powers besides Evolution. Oh, well.
X-Men (2000)
Great movie. Just be careful. (spoiler)
This is an awesome ride. The movie has great characters and actors to play them. Ian McKellen as Magneto was very good, and Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier was a very smart thing on their end to do, I think. Hugh Jackman played the role of Wolverine to very near perfection. (ending with the list of characters there)
The action is great, and the effects are decent. They have this one part (spoiler here) where they pit Wolverine against Mystique while in Logan's (Wolverine's) form. They did that so well. However, the whole movie is not innocent. Besides the action and typical profanities in movies today, there are some other problems. There is some crass mention of male genitalia. Logan uses one of his claws to give Cyclops the finger (while this may fly over the heads of many people, those who do catch it may have a problem with it). Toad also has some gross powers. Like when he throws that stuff Jean's face, those who know what it is (check out its color) may get a little queasy knowing just how sticky and strong it is. But the biggest problem in my opinion is Mystique's figure. I know that scientifically speaking, this is more sound then what the comics have, but she is very nearly totally naked. They put on just enough prosthetics and had most of her scenes dark enough so as to get by with PG-13 rating. Barely, though.
So overall, I still love this movie. It's a great action/sci-fi/fantasy movie (fantasy because evolution is an unproven theory and it's a bogus theory). But just make sure you watch out for the crudities of this movie.
Spider-Man (2002)
Woooooo-hoooooo!!!
This is such an awesome ride! I have been waiting two years to see this movie, and I have finally seen it! This is great, just absolutely great!
Tobey Maguire did a fantastic job as Peter Parker. I'm something like Peter before he got bit, so I could kinda relate to him. The way they re-wrote it more according to the new Ultimate Spider-man comics vs. the old classic way that Spider-man got his powers was marvelous.
The action scenes were great. The only part about this movie that was a little hard to bear was the goblin costume. But, he was insane, so it didn't really cut away from his character.
Back to the action, PULSE-POUNDING! Spider-man winding up fighting the goblin so many times was great. The hand-to-hand combat was superbly done. The CG battles were expert, and just everything oozed of greatness.
As a long-time Spider-man fan, I'm very happy with this film, and so is my sister, who usually doesn't like him. Anyone who likes fun movies with plenty of thrills will not be disappointed by this blockbuster. Get caught in this web. You won't be sorry!
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
I don't think we've gotten to the hard part yet.
As I promised, it has been nearly a year and a full season for this show. Now I shall tell you how this show has faired since the premiere, "Rising".
YAAAAAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! What a trip! This show is absolutely great! OK, basic storyline: the Atlantis team from earth led by civilian Dr. Elizibeth Weir and ranking military officer Major John Sheppard have made it to the Pegasus galaxy, where the Ancients went when they left the Milky Way. They take with them roughly 200 scientists and soldiers, including Dr. Rodney McKay who had made 3 appearances in Stargate SG-1. When they arrive, they find that the Ancients aren't there either anymore, and have left the ancient (no pun intended) city of Atlantis under the ocean of an abandoned planet. While they go exploring, they find a race of humans led by a woman named Teyla, who tells them of an alien race known as the Wraith. She tells them that if they have never been attacked by them, then they should go back to the safety of whatever planet they came from. Not long after, several dart ships come through the Stargate and beam up several humans. They are the Wraith: a race that feeds off the life force of humans and performs a "culling" every few thousand years. Major Sheppard leads a team with a ship named "Puddlejumper 1" to a planet controlled by the Wraith. They manage to get most of their people out, but in the process they wake up the Wraith who are hibernating. A culling that wasn't supposed to happen for many years was about to take place in the galaxy. They need to find a ZPm (a device used to power Atlantis) before the Wraith attack if they want to defend Atlantis.
In this one season alone, they have fought the Wraith on several occasions, found some not-so-friendly humans, such as the Gen'ii who want the people of Atlantis dead almost as much as the Wraith, found out more about the process of Ascencion and possibly how the Ancients discovered how to make it possible, made sacrifices and have plunged very quickly into the history of the Pegasus Galaxy, all the while trying to find a power source before it's too late.
This is great action, great effects, great music, and almost every episode is treated like it would if it was going into the theaters. It is only slightly below Sg-1 as my favorite Science fiction show. Watch the action and you'll love it almost as much as I do.
Secondhand Lions (2003)
Defanitely better than you would think.
I had heard from different sources that this was a very good movie, however, I had my doubts. From the commercials, it looked a little boring and quaint.
Well, I'm here to tell you that you cannot judge a book by its cover. It is a whole lot better then I imagined.
One of my prejudgments was that it would all be talk. Wrong. These guys enjoy fishing-with their guns. There was plenty of action to satisfy me. A brawl in a diner, sword fights, bombshells and coming out of death just barely.
If you have read my review on Freaky Friday, then you will know that I think that there aren't many family films left. But this is another beacon of hope that good, wholesome movies will be coming back to the big screen.
Freaky Friday (2003)
Things are totally Freaky. I mean really, FREAKY!
Anna and Tess Coleman are at each other's throats. Tess is going to be having a wedding rehearsal dinner tomorrow night and her daughter Anna is the maid of honor. The only problem is that that same night, Anna and her friends' rock band have an audition that could be their ticket to stardom. Seeing their argument, an old Asian mother takes two fortune cookies from her restaurant and gives them to the wrathful women. The next morning, they find themselves in each other's bodies. With Tess' wedding tomorrow and the Rock band audition tonight as well as the rehearsal dinner, this is quite a roller coaster.
This is a very nice movie. These days, it's very hard to find a film that the whole family can watch with little ones in the room. This film shows a little hope that family movies will be coming back.
With so much comedy, they're able to put in enough seriousness to make it touching and memorable. There's some comical violence as well as some language that would turn off little ones, but overall, this is wonderful. Get the DVD. If you don't, you'll get freaked out.
The Omega Code (1999)
Very nicely handled. I think this is pretty good.
While I don't think that that will be the exact outcome, I think it was very good. A little bit better than the Left Behind series if for one main reason, I believe that the rapture will happen after the Tribulation has happened, and this film seems to support that. There is no mention of rapture anywhere, and the only mayhem is caused by the Devil and his servants.
The effects were pretty good, and the characters were superb. Although you felt that it actually took less than seven years for the whole thing to happen, it doesn't take away from the story.
I recommend that you see this movie. Some people might not agree with it, but hey, everyone's flocking to Left Behind, and God's the one that's causing the mayhem there.
Hulk (2003)
Spoilers.
Spoiler! Spoiler!! SPOILER!!! This whole movie is a spoiler. It took thirty minutes (thirty looong minutes) before Bruce even got zapped with the gamma. Then it took another fifteen at least before he turned into the Hulk.
Other complaints include bad comic book effects. For over one third of the movie, I felt like I was watching a comic book off of the MARVEL website. (Here's where the "real" spoilers are) The things the Hulk fought were also dumb. First, it was giant mutant dogs that his father had created from Bruce's DNA. Personally, I think they were just trying to cash in on the Lord of the Ring's Two Towers Wargs. Next, they had Bruce trying to break out of a government location getting away from what I see as a jealous man who likes Bruce's girl. When he gets picked off from his own bomb, I think that's the worst effect in the whole movie by turning him into a piece of cardboard surrounded by flames. Then we have the Hulk hopping from place to place trying to get away from his girlfriend's father, who's trying to lock him up with missiles. Then, finally, we have him fighting his dad, which contains some of the worst action scenes I have ever seen. We could see V'ger from the Star Trek movie better than we could see "Daddy dearest". First he was an electricity monster, and I could see how he turned into that. Next, he turned into a rock monster, which I don't see how that could have happened. Next, he turned into this water...thing. Oh, and while Hulk was in the water, I couldn't make heads or tails what was going on. Why, oh, why did they have to set it up for a sequel? I beg you, please don't!!
In short, it's not an action movie, nor is it a good drama. It's more like a really, really bad soap opera with monsters in it. The only reason I could see a person wanting this movie, is if they're a comic book artist, and they need the muscle tones from the Hulk. Other then that, stay away.
The Return of the King (1980)
Another fun, cute way of telling the story.
This is another good animation. Unlike what Bakshi tried to do which was try and make a blockbuster out of a cartoon LOTR, Rankin and Bass just tried and make a nice cartoon that kids can enjoy, and it wound up being excellent.
If you read my review on the Hobbit, then you know that the artistry lacks a little. Though, Aragorn looked pretty decent. My only real complaint here is that (spoiler here) Frodo puts on the Ring halfway through the story, when Theoden dies. Although, I suppose it would have been difficult to have it on the correct timeframe since they kind of skipped some stuff that happened in line with the other characters. Also, there is a noteable lack of Gimli and Legolas in here. But then, we might not have wanted to see Legolas since in the Hobbit, they portrayed Elves with blue skin, very long ears and pointy fingers. But on a high note, they did show the reason why Denethor went mad, and that was something PJ hasn't done.
In a nutshell, very nicely done, kids'll like it and so will their parents. Like I said with the Hobbit. if you see it on the shelf in a store pick it up. You might be surprised.
The Hobbit (1977)
It's not bad.
It's certainly not what PJ could do with the Hobbit, but it certainly is nice. I think it captures the overall story pretty well. In fact, the only real complaint that I have is that sometimes the artistry lacked. OK, so they made everyone but Bard have fat or thin faces with either beaks, rocks, or boulders for noses. But other than that, it's quite enjoyable. Oh, and I was a little disappointed that they didn't have Beorn. But, I stopped crying after the first ten minutes when I realized they skipped him (ha ha).
There are some nice songs in it that kind of help the story along. The Riddles in the Dark part was pretty good too (although, I think they took the description in the Lord of the Rings of Gollum looking like a starved frog a little too far).
While it is a children's cartoon, adults can enjoy this too. If you happen to see it on the shelf of a store, pick it up. You might be surprised by what's in it.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
I have to tell you this in my update.
I read a lot of your reviews, and I noticed in some of them that you said while this was a great show, it had some plots that were never finished, like the parasites or the inter-dimensional clicking aliens. I agree that it was disappointing that they didn't finish these and some other plots up (except for Armus. They couldn't have continued him. I mean, after they beamed everyone out of the shuttle he was confined to the planet and a warning beacon was set up around the place),but I'm reminded of another review I read here, that this opened up a whole new universe for Trekkies. I view the unfinished storylines as open-enders for other series to finish up. Granted it has been a long time. A very long time, but maybe the producers of Star Trek will look at the episodes of TNG after they're done with Enterprise and say, "Hey, that was a pretty good story. They left it open for us, let's run with it and see where it takes us."
I also think that the effects in some instances, scratch that, in nearly all instances the effects were better-done then the movies before First Contact. Maybe Generations was close to it. The only real problem I had with the effects was the phaser blasts in the first season, but fortunately, they got rid of that shock-wave effect.
Anyway, as I said in my earlier review, this is the best Star Trek media out there. Watch it on Spike TV (just beware of some commercials). You'll see what I mean.
Enterprise (2001)
Above DS9, but below Voyager.
It's an OK series, starting in the twenty-second century I think. It's all right, I guess. My favorite character is the Engineer, Trip Tucker. T'pol is OK too.
Unfortunately though, I have to agree with Rob Taylor. They delved in three seasons more into time-travel then Voyager did in seven seasons. I think it's really interesting, but even I have to draw the line somewhere.
While I missed the first season, and the second season was a little stale, the third season is interesting. While I don't approve of the Captain's behavior through most of it, and I certainly don't like the way that T'pol and Tucker fratranize, it's reasonably OK. No spiritual muck like DS9, or the campiness of TOS, it's not the best, but enjoyable. I view it like The Search for Spock. If you watch it, that's good. But if you don't, it's not the end of the world.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Awful.
This is the first Star Trek film made, and like TOS, it was such a bad way to start it off. I'm sorry, but everyone had just as much campiness and bad-acting as Kirk.
The effects were the best part of the whole movie. I enjoyed watching the Star Wars-like effects, but everything else was awful. The "Villain" was poorly done, both visually and story-wise.
In short, if there is one Star Trek movie that you would want to miss would be this one. Only containing a brief glimpse of another species, the Klingons (who look very different from the show), we only really get to see humans. If I were you, keep away from this and go to Nemesis. You'll be so much happier.