Reviews

As soon as the screen went yellow, a big stupid smile spread across my face. "Finally, this is it" I thought to myself. The film adaptation of the greatest piece of literature ever produced. The once thought unfilmable graphic novel, has finally made its way to the big screen, and it is nothing short of phenomenal, even with several flaws.

If you are a fan of Watchmen, or call yourself one, I find it hard to think of you hating this movie. It is an absolute fanboy's dream come true. I think the moment I realized this was during the opening credits where we are introduced to the Watchmen universe with Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changing." This is, without a doubt, the greatest opening credit sequence I've ever laid witness too. For about two-and-a-half minutes, we are slowly brought in beautiful fashion the past events of the Minutemen that have shaped the alternate universe in which Watchmen takes place in. It is just stunning.

You'd think that the film would kind of tail off after such an impactful opening with the Comedian and his assailant fighting, but you would be mistaken. The film, which has so much to cover, doesn't even begin to feel the slight-bit rushed until Dr. Manhattan teleports himself to Mars. This scene, Watchmaker, is still done brilliantly just the introduction is a bit rushed. It makes you wonder though, if Zack Snyder can deliver almost an hour of Watchmen without it feeling rushed in a two-hour and 40-minute movie, what will the 3+ hour Absolute Edition on DVD be like?

From Watchmaker on though, things get a little jumbled. They are still ridiculously faithful to the comic, just told in a different form, or done in a different way. It's clear here though, if you haven't read the graphic novel you may start getting a little lost or confused around this time. Things start to move fast, and it's clear the makers of the film weren't thinking of the mainstream audience in developing. As a huge fan of the comic, I'm not complaining.

This film stays faithful right up until the last bit. The new ending is a little too quick for my taste, and doesn't have near the impact that the GN's ending did. The ending is still done right, but it feels a little mashed. All in all though, it doesn't disappoint.

All the performances are astounding, even Matthew Goode, aside from the fact that they made him too sinister. Jackie Earle Haley and Billy Crudup give the best performances. JEH steals every scene as Rorschach, and gives you that sense of unease that the masked vigilante is supposed to. Crudup somehow captures the distant, and uncaring nature of Dr. Manhattan. It's eerie how good he is as the H-Bomb. Patrick Wilson is the perfect flabby failure of Nite Owl II, and Malin Akerman isn't just a sexy face to look at. She actually does a pretty damn good job as Silk Spectre II. And Jeffery Dean Morgan is fascinating as the sadistic, brutal, cynical Comedian. The biggest surprise for me though was Carla Gugino who did a great job as Sally Jupiter. Not to mention, she's an absolute fox in the Minutemen scenes.

Overall, this is definitely the best adaptation Watchmen fans could have ever asked for out a theatrical cut. It has its bad moments, but in the end you realize that this was just a monumental achievement. A movie that was in development hell for 20 years has finally come to the big screen in gorgeous fashion.

I walked into Grindhouse with high expectations, and not only did it live up to my expectations, it surpassed them. Grindhouse is truly the best film of the year and possibly of all-time. It's violent, gross, disturbing, but above all else, it's FUN. We go to the movies to be entertained, and Grindhouse delivers that in more ways than one.

Before the first film starts, we get to see the first of four faux trailers. This one is called "Machete" written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It was my favourite. I absolutely loved it. The lines were terrific(B-movie greatness), and the action was a blast. I am so excited that Rodriguez is making this film, even if it is a direct to DVD.

The first of the two films, Planet Terror(Rodriguez's), in my opinion, is the better of the two films. Set in Texas, it's about a chemical that's infecting the town and turning them all into zombies. Pretty much everyone is infected, save for a handful. The main character El Wray(Freddy Rodriguez) is just flat-out cool. He's so bad-ass as he's killing zombies left and right throughout the movie. His co-star, Rose McGowan(Cherry Darling) plays a Go-Go dancer who loses her leg to a group of savage zombies. Throughout most of the movie she walks around with a table leg in her stump, and it provides for some hilarious moments. Near the end, she gets her gun, and levels zombie after zombie. It's pretty awesome. Bruce Willis plays the bad guy, who tries to explain the little story the movie has. Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton and Fergie(from the Black Eyed Peas) co-star and do a great job. The movie is filled with laughs from it's cheesy B-movie lines, to it's missing reels and everything in between. You'll laugh, cry, squirm and cheer by movie's end.

But wait, there's still another full-length movie ahead. Just one minute though, first we get treated to 3 fantastic faux trailers during the intermission. Up first is "Werewolf Women of the SS" which is written and directed by Rob Zombie. Easily the most bizarre of the 4 trailers. A werewolf firing a gun? What's up with that? But, that's what just makes it great. It's really out there, but it's very enjoyable(especially the end when a big name star shows up). Next is "Don't". This one provides laughs, but overall isn't near as cool as the other three. It's written and directed by Edgar Wright(Shaun of the Dead). The last one, and the most well-done trailer, is Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving". It recreates the feel of the 70s-80s slasher films brilliantly. The filter over the camera is scratchy, and the voice-over for the trailer has that low serious tone that makes it so cool. It's definitely the most uncomfortable to watch of the trailers, but that doesn't make it bad. "Thanksgiving" is filled with decapitations, sex and over-the-top corny lines. I really hope Eli Roth ends up making a full-length movie out of this, and puts into a, hopefully, Grindhouse II. These trailers were just unbelievably good.

Now, onto movie number two, Death Proof. Yet another excellent film by Mr. Quentin Tarantino. Does this guy ever make a bad movie? I'll admit though, as great as Tarantino is, DP is a little slow starting up, but once it gets going, Quentin's back! Most of Death proof revolves around groups of girls that, mostly talk about, *ahem*, things of, relating to, the sexual nature. They talk about this throughout the movie, that is, until, they meet the villain of the story, Stuntman Mike(Kurt Russel). Russel is back, and once again, he's kick ass! He plays a stuntman who did various work for old t.v. shows and movies, but now, well now, he just likes to take girls in his car for their last ride ever. Eventually though, a group of girls catch up with Mike after he tries to make them his next victims. DP is one wild ride filled with excellent dialogue and possibly the best car chase scene ever in a movie.

Grindhouse is just all-around outstanding with it's missing reels, awful lines, pops, clicks and grainy screen. Odds are, you're going to love it. It's crazy, extreme, and over-the-top. It's what movies are supposed to be! Grindhouse brings something to the table that movies today really don't, originality. This 191-minute masterpiece filled with violence, swearing, sex and gore is truly amazing. If I try explaining the movie too much, you'll only be left confused. So, I'll just tell you this, like I tell everyone else, don't judge it, just go see it!

One word wraps up Metal Gear Solid 3 perfectly: perfection. This game is the closet one can get to having a perfect video game. MGS 3 is in a league of its own compared to any other game out there. It's beautifully written, brilliantly voiced, and stunningly composed. This game truly shows that video games are a form of art. To the critics who say otherwise, I have one question for them, have you ever played Metal Gear Solid?

Metal Gear Solid 3 takes place in the 1960s in the midst of the Cold War. Once again, you resume the role of the hero Snake, but this time, it's not the Solid Snake we've all come to know and love. No, instead, it's Naked Snake, or, as the name you might know him by, Big Boss. Yes, that's right, Solid Snake's father. But, have no fears, David Hayter supplies his voice for Big Boss as well, and the young Big Boss is an exact duplicate of Solid Snake.

Big Boss is sent in on a mission to retrieve the famous rocket scientist Nikoali Stepanovich Sokolov who is working on a top-secret project for the Soviet Union. After you retrieve him though, the real story begins. While Snake is escorting Sokolov out of the jungles of Soviet Russia, his mentor, The Boss, betrays him, and the United States, and steals two miniature nuclear shells as a "gift" for her new host, Coloner Volgin. Colonel Volgin then deploys a miniature shell at a design bureau, and now Russia thinks the U.S. is at fault. Snake now must head back into Russia, and prove the U.S.'s innocence in the matter. Throughout Snake's journey, he runs into a cast of bizarre characters, and a familiar face to the MGS series, Revolver Ocelot. Except this time, Ocelot is about 40 years younger.

The story of MGS 3 proves to be the best one yet, filled with twists and turns, as Snake unravels a conspiracy, and more details to the ever-epic storyline of Metal Gear Solid. Once you finish the game, you'll stand up, applaud, and ask yourself, "Can a game get any better than this?"

Well, I guess we'll have to wait 'til MGS 4 to answer that question.

The Lion King, to me, is like no other movie. It's a movie that gets better every time you watch it, and one you never get sick of. A movie you can't stop watching, and one that you wish would not end, it is that good. It's a movie that both adults and kids can enjoy. The kids will enjoy young Simba's adventures and Timone and Pumbaa's jokes. The adults will enjoy those as well, but they will also enjoy the great dramatic Hamlet-like story, the music, and the great voice cast. The Lion King is a phenomenal movie and has something to offer for everyone.

The Lion King succeeds on every level. From it's award winning music to it's superb voice cast. Hans Zimmer does an excellent job with the score, causing me to have goosebumps at certain points in the movie. Elton John's talent for writing songs really shows in this movie with songs like, "Can't Wait To Be King", and Hakuna Ma Tatta." After you see this movie you'll know why the music was award-winning.

Not only is the music good but the voice acting is superb. With James Earl Jones providing a commanding voice for King Mufassa, to Jonathan Taylor Thomas providing a high-pitched eccentric voice for young Simba. Matthew Broderick is excellent as well as adult Simba, and Jeremy Irons provides his devilish voice to the villain Scar fantastically. Rowan Atkinson is great also as the charmed Zazu, and Nathan Lane is hilarious as Timone.

The music and voice casting, as I mentioned earlier, aren't the only great parts movie, the plot shines just as bright, maybe even brighter. As I also mentioned before, The Lion King has a Hamlet-like story with a king who has a son that will one day will take over as king and rule the Pride Lands. The king though, has a jealous, mischievous brother who schemes against him in order to obtain the throne by killing the king, and his would-be king son. The son after surviving his uncle's plot to kill him, and after running away from the Pride Lands because he thought his father's death was his fault, must return to the Pride Lands and reclaim his rightful place as King.

The movie has plenty of drama, to if not make you spout some tears, at least feel saddened by some elements of the movie. The movie also makes you laugh, and makes you happy. The Lion King even has romance in it, with Simba and his life-long friend Nala. The Lion King is the complete package that gives you everything. It is movie that you will not walk away disappointed from. To me, it's wonder why this isn't in IMDb's top 250, and it's also wonder why this movie didn't win Best Picture.

Sin City is a film based on Frank Miller's black and white graphic novel of violence, sex, and dark humor. The whole movie is shot in black and white with the exception of a red car, and some yellow, or blue here and there. It is a word for word adaptation of the novel and told from a narrative perspective. Now this is the most stunning looking film I've seen in a while and the most perfect comic book adaptation I've ever seen. This doesn't necessarily make the film good. No the film actually turns out to be quite bad.

Sin City is comprised of 3 of the many tales Frank Miller has written and with the exception of Mickey Rourke's story they all fall flat. All the stories are are constant decapitations, drinking, swearing, stabbing, shooting, and sex. After a while it just gets old, and dry.

Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, and Bruce Willis help lead the stories. They all do a fantastic job except for Clive Owen who just doesn't seem gritty enough for the role he plays. Willis plays Hartigan, a roughed up ex-cop. He nails it by one, looking like it, and two sounding like it. Mickey Rourke plays Marv a kind-of "giant", and sure knows how to play a big killing machine. Rosario Dawson plays a hooker with a heart of coal and plays it perfectly. Clive Owen plays some regular guy who seems to never be able to kill anybody and can't act his way out of a paper-bag in this one. All together though it combines to create one hell of an acting performance. This movie is not for the kiddies but that shouldn't matter because don't even bother going to the store to get it for yourself because this one should be left on the shelf.