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brettchatz
Reviews
I Am Legend (2007)
It's 2009 and a deadly virus is about to wipe out humanity
Will Smith goes high-octane in this futuristic action drama. It's the year 2009 and Manhattan is being evacuated along with every other city in the world for fear of the deadliest outbreak of the KV virus. As the virus mutates and crosses over into an airborne pathogen, widespread chaos breaks out across America.
Will Smith is Robert Neville, a research doctor and the only one with immunity to this vicious disease. Come sunset and the only creatures roaming the planet are ghoulish fiends infected with this deadly plague. Neville battles life and limb for 3 years to find survivors in and amongst the ruins of New York City.
With only his loyal German shepherd and his daily radio broadcasts it's a nightmare come true. Only monstrous abominations roam the streets after dark and it's eerie as all hell. That is until a mystery guest arrives.
This is riveting entertainment; it has moments of real drama as it gradually builds up to a pyrotechnical masterpiece. Enjoy it at your own peril!
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
A huge disappointment for fans of this memorable series
There are films that inspire and there are miserable attempts of folly. Alvin and the Chipmunks falls into the latter category. Here was an 80's series that had it all: snappy beatz; great humour and fantastic stories. Take that perfect vision and translate it into a full-length feature film and your idea would look a little different than the gruel Tim Hill came up with. Perhaps he never saw the series? We have Dave, a lonely, bungling artist in a world that's hard on soft bachelors. One day he happens to meet a group of talking Chipmunks. It's that simple. These are no ordinary little animated characters however they sing and they talk. So our intrepid musician writes their songs and gives them shelter. The Chipmunks are a huge hit America loves them. But can Dave protect them from being exploited by ruthless, greedy men? I advise kids and only very young kids to see this with their parents. This is not a film worthy of being considered for adult or post-kindergarten entertainment.
This Christmas (2007)
waste of time.....
Starring: Delroy Lindo; Idris Elba; Chris Brown; Loretta Divine; Chris Brown and Sharon Leal Written and Directed by: Preston A. Whitmore II This Christmas is everything you'd expect in festive season little bundle: it's funny; exciting and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling at its conclusion. Here's the story of the Whitfield's an urban African American family. This is their story, replete with amusements; disappointments and big surprises.
When Mama Whitfield decides to invite all her babies home for Christmas, it's bound to raise the roof. There are multiple stories within this well-scripted little tale and that's where it scores big points with the audience everyone can relate to this in some way or other.
The music is simply splendid; the silky-smooth voice of 18-year-old Chris Brown is something surreal. It's time to enjoy some good old-fashioned family entertainment this summer with This Christmas! Written by Brett Chatz at 5:10 AM
Underdog (2007)
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a frog no it's Underdog!
Starring: James Belushi; Peter Dinklage; Alex Neuberger and Jason Lee Underdog is a true hero's tale. Here is the story of Shoeshine, a regular, playful little beagle. When he is dog napped by a megalomaniac midget hell-bent on destruction, something freaky happens.
Our quirky little neighborhood pooch gains extraordinary powers. He can run as fast a cheetah; fly as fast a superhero and has the power of thunder. He is no longer Shoeshine; he is Underdog the best crime-fighter in the animal kingdom. The city cannot sleep until Underdog rids it of the evil midget Dr. Simon Barsinister and his cronies.
If you fancy some really light-hearted entertainment with all the clichés of superhero action flicks, then this one is for you. As for quality entertainment, this one is strictly for the juniors. Those of you hoping to enjoy the comedy of the fast-fading star -James Belushi - a word of caution: this is not one of his finer works.
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007)
All hell breaks loose as supernatural forces battle it out
This film is nothing more than an inter-stellar showdown between two of the Universe's worst monsters imaginable. It's backwoods USA as the setting of this titanic encounter between the frightening Predator and the Alien specimens.
If you're a fan of either killing machine, you'll appreciate the special-effects wizardry that goes into films of this nature. The acting is sketchy at best and there's a heck of a lot of noise and pyrotechnical displays. If you can imagine a group of misdirected youths trying to steer clear of the worst fiends out there, you'll do well to understand this little New Year's flick.
It's fast; it's furious and it is special-effects magic at its very best. There is blood and guts all over the place as Aliens and Predator carve each other up in this dramatic action thriller.
Good for young and old, but be warned this will leave you clawing your nails into your seat!
The Ring Two (2005)
Fairly thin script and predictable ending
The Ring 2 was hardly as riveting as the first movie, which was able to keep audiences glued to their seats throughout. The concept of having a psychologically distressed child crawling out of a well and through your cable TV was quite something a few years back. Today however with scary movies hardly able to flex their muscle anymore, the director could have done far more with his aqua-based plot. The water imagery was refreshing and hardly scary. Throughout the movie the stunted character of Aidan failed to impress; what did impress was the sex appeal of Naomi Watts and her character. If it wasn't for her acting as the over zealous and protective mother that she was, the story would have fallen flat long before its predictable story-line did. All credit to the cast for trying to piece together a scenario which might evoke fear. The fact that the Ring 3 seems a likely possibility is all too apparent...
A Man Apart (2003)
Non-stop action adventure
For the most part, this Hollywood blockbuster serves its purpose of entertaining adrenalin junkies the world over. Congrats to Diesel on another pulsating performance and his co-stars in bringing this cinematic chase to life. As with many similar pictures, certain characters lack depth and credibility but the special effects are truly worth every second of screen time. Vin Diesel plays his signature tough-guy superhero kamakazi hell-bent on revenge and metering out retribution. Hats off to the producers and the director of this explosive action hit. Vin is going to bleed his tough-guy persona for as much as he get get from it, risking being typecast as another action hero who will ultimately fade away, much like Van Damme, S Seagal and Sly Stallone to name but a few.
Open Water (2003)
Low-key, low-budget attempt at a suspense thriller.
This film was touted to be a nailbiting edge-of-your-seat thriller. In some aspects the movie was able to captivate the audience, but for the most part I found it to be seriously lacking in its realism or believability. The sheer horror and panic that must have existed for the stranded couple could have been delivered with more gusto, more emotional charge than the actors delivered in the screenplay. In the style of the Blair Witch films, this one attempted a similar jab at audiences, however it was unconvincing at the best of times and as one would have to wonder what torment the real-life characters actually underwent before they were eaten alive by sharks. I am not quite sure how to rate this film, suffice it to say it is definitely not your average Hollywood run-of-the-mill story. Forget the effects, just allow your fears to assist the writer/director/producer to help deliver the message that this film intends to send out.
50 First Dates (2004)
Interesting story-line however fragmented it is at times
Here we have another interesting look at the comedic genius abilities of America's most loved - Adam Sandler, and the corresponding girly charm of ever-likeable Drew Barrymore. Sandler turns in a mediocre performance with Barrymore in this almost unique plot(similarity in some small measure to Ground Hog Day) where a concussion has caused the protagonist Lucy to lose her short term memory. In an endeavor to fall in love with his most challenging conquest yet, Sandler's character attempts a series of wild and imaginative stunts to combat her Achilles heel. Knowing that every new day signals the beginning of winning her over once again, Sandler bravely and stubbornly persists in trying to indelibly etch himself into Barrymore's deeper subconscious. In an emotionally draining and sporadically amusing relationship(If one day flings with an individual with no short-term memory classify as a relationship) Sandler must try to stay the course and through some inventive way manifest their mutual 'love' for one another deep within her. Ultimately the trials and tribulations pay off and through clever scheming via prerecorded video cassette the nuptial is concluded in a lovely Jewish Style Wedding!
X2 (2003)
You want entertainment value plus much more!!!
X2 is an awesome movie, with daring stunts and special effects galore. The comic-book characters have been brought to life with startling realism and ferocious intensity. The story once again focuses on the loner Wolverine whose destiny it is to uncover his origin. The entire dazzling array of Mutants is here to behold. Magneto and his cronies, determined to wipe out humanity must once again be halted by those who have decided to safeguard humanity from the embittered Magneto. It is world order that can only exist through co-existence of Humans and Mutants. We have several new mutant additions in this film and their extraordinary abilities are displayed in a series of riveting scenes. With good sequels so hard to come by, this one has proven its worth in gold and I for one eagerly await X3 whenever it is scheduled for release!
Blue Streak (1999)
Martin Lawrence pulls out all the stops in this funny film!
If being a critic is all about criticizing then this film is only worthy of praise for it does a great job at entertaining the audience. Martin does a fine job at playing the conman turned cop wannabee in searching for his stashed gem in the vents of the LAPD building. Although there are occasional references to overplayed acts etc, it does well in being a really funny film. The action scenes are exciting and the funny-man antics of Lawrence are worthwhile watching. The bad-guy character in the film is really paper-thin but luckily very little focus is directed at him in any event. This a Lawrence film, where the focus is on his style of humor. If you like the guy, you won't be disappointed in this one. Two-thumbs up !
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Enthralling and riveting viewing!
This was truly a gem of a film, in which Bruce Willis once again displays his exceptional versatility as a quality actor. The audience is drawn into a thrilling and eerie adventure through the eyes of a terrified youngster. It makes for captivating viewing and is so wonderfully crafted that it can only be appreciated fully through a second cursory viewing of the material. Full credit to the writers and actors of this nail-biting thriller. As a psychologist juxtaposed alongside his grieving wife, the plot slowly begins to unravel.Along the lines of 'Fight Club', this film is worthy of viewing and is a guaranteed KO in entertainment value. It is one of those films that evoke deep thought and the twist in the tale is well worth the viewing.
Spider-Man (2002)
Daring stunts and special effects galore!
It comes as no surprise that Marvel Comics has produced a full length modern-day feature film of one of the most loved superheroes of all time. My personal favorite - the amazing Spider-man. Following the huge public interest in Superman, Batman and the Incredible Hulk to name but a few, it was only natural that the dexterity and agility of Spider-man hit our silver screens. Peter Parker is the average guy-next-door. He isn't the stud or the icon that our heroes often appear to be, rather he is goofy, rather conflicted and shy. The film explores his difficult time as a bookworm at high school. However with a little help from a radioactive spider, he is soon transformed into a marvelous hero. One who soon realizes that with great power comes great responsibility. The first film laid the platform for the ultimate success of the second, however the first is a better film in many aspects.
Tango & Cash (1989)
Great action flick, with great fight scenes!
If you like me are a Sly Stallone megafan, then this is one that you wouldn't want to miss. With Stallone riding the crest of his Rambo and Rocky waves at this juncture, he chipped in with a little gem of a film alongside Kurt Russell. The two cops from different ends of the spectrum are equally effective at combating crime and tearing down the cartel-style dealings of the arch-villain, Jack Palance. The villain, who soon tires of their successes, concocts a sadistic plan to frame the two super-cops. After their daring jail-break, they decide to bring closure to the matter and ruthlessly pursue the man who put them behind bars in the first place. With their names smeared over the press and their careers brought to an end, they must salvage what is left of their lives and bring honor back to the PD and themselves. They team up in a cracking and spectacular fashion, in this action-galore film. Great viewing!