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Jasper76
Reviews
Madagascar (2005)
very funny, very smart, enjoyable for everybody
Pixar always gets the lion share (forgive the pun) of excellent reviews. But I found Madagascar to be every bit the equal of Pixar's best stuff. The key test, that this DVD passes, is the repeated viewing test. I've seen it probably 20 times now, since my three year old loves it, and I haven't yet tired of it. The performances are excellent with Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) stealing the show away from Chris Rock and Ben Stiller. David Schwimmer is funnier here than he's ever been on Friends. It has a great ensemble feel, which seems almost impossible for an animated film. And it has, ya know, a great message and all that. But mostly, I enjoyed it simply because it was well crafted, and consistently funny.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
The cuteness ends here
This should have been the end of the Home Alone series, seeing that the same premise and cast were used for two films but, naturally, Hollywood just can't resist trying to squeeze more money from a proved formula. I'm not one for sequels but this was one of the handful that I can enjoy time and again, not only because the original cast is in it, but because of Macaulay Culkin's comedic ability (even as a kid) and Joe Pesci's and Daniel Stern's reactions to getting their butts kicked, booby trap style. Kevin is not forgotten (like he was last time) but hops the wrong plane after he puts fresh batteries in the family camera right before he gets to the gate at the airport (his family had all the bad luck with high winds knocking out the electric - and the alarm clock - twice). He mistakes a man with the same coat as his father and after Kevin reassures a flight attendant he's on the right plane, takes his seat ... in a plane heading in the exact opposite direction the rest of his family is going (naturally, no one realizes Kevin's missing until they're in Miami and he's in NY). Who could have thought a vacant New York brownstone could be so much fun? Sure, Pesci's and Stern's characters are more banged up this time but, hey, they started it. (The adventures in the Plaza Hotel are hilarious, as well.) Anyway, this is one sequel worth the time to watch. Just don't bother with the irrelevant, contrived, and unncessary third installment of the series.
Toy Story (1995)
This Is A Great Family Movie
Imagine a world where whenever your back is turned or whenever you leave a room your toys come to life and communicate with each other like we do. Woody is the toy cowboy doll of a boy called Andy. Woody is Andys favorite toy until one day Andys birthday comes around and he gets a new toy which quickly becomes Andys favourite toy ahead of Woody. Woody quickly becomes jealous because not only has Andy pushed him aside but his fellow toy friends have chosen the new toy Buzz Lightyear ahead of Woody so now Woody plots a way to get Buzz out of the way for good with disastrous consequences. I will say no more about the movie as i feel if you haven't seen it then most of this film should be a surprise to you. All i do have to say however is Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz are superb choices as the voices of the main characters. This is an incredibly warm hearted and fun family film that a child of any age would love.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Where's all the rum gone?
Many many years ago, the stories of pirates died in Hollywood, the interest and freshness just left it, and the name of swashbuckling piracy gathered dust in a box on a shelf in the back of a closet. Then, in 2003, Jerry Bruckheimer found the old box, dusted it off and said to himself "Hey I could use this!" And use it, he did. With an all-star cast and the best crew in town, Jerry set out to do the unthinkable, resurrect the pirate name. Many people, upon seeing the footage-less teaser trailer thought the film would be so bad it would be a joke, but the director, Gore Verbinki proved them all wrong. Through jolly musical themes, a surprisingly creepy plot, a fantastic cast, and awesome bits of nothing-but-fun action, Pirates of the Caribbean successfully leaves the viewer stunned, and wanting more (which, they brought, twice). If you liked Transformers, Night at the Musiem you will probably like this movie.
Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin
I feel lucky to count myself among those who grew up watching modern masterpieces such as "Aladdin", "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and the like. Nowadays they just don't make 'em like that anymore. Sad but true. (I'm not keen on the Pixar flicks, sorry). I vividly remember going to see each and one of them (starting with "Mermaid" in the spring of 1990) on the big screen. Those were scarce moments of true childhood innocence. Times that you take with you forever, and Disney has done just that to almost every kid in the world during the last 70 years. "Aladdin" came out at the peak of Disney's third golden age that started in 1989. The company released a number of films which broke new ground in animation and were huge artistic and commercial successes as well. Although it broke a few records when it came out on video in 1993, for some odd reason, this DVD release sold a meager amount of copies, catching everyone at the studio by surprise. Nevertheless, "Aladdin" remains as enjoyable as ever and much better than most of its successors.
Brotherhood of Blood (2007)
Rough edges but very promising
Unlike most suspense thrillers,'brotherhood of blood' remains interesting even after multiple viewings. Its charm is not dependent on suspense alone.Its true force comes from the acting by the main leads and the narrative technique. Just when one story thread appears to be in the danger of going limp, there emerges another much tauter. The screenplay is such a deviously contrived maze that almost every character appears to be lost at one point or another.
Some people may complain about the contrived ending. But why ending alone? The whole plot is a contrivance. More important than the plausibility element, I think it's the entertainment angle that's really taken care of. And it's pretty cerebral at that.
One of the pleasures of this move is that it makes you care about some of the main characters. You don't see many low budget movies these days that make you feel that way.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
Follow in "The Lord of the Rings" creator's (J.R.R. Tolkien's) footsteps. Project a malevolent universe. Invent a world and animate it with creatures in conflict. Make the conflict a battle between good and evil, but don't identify clearly the moral value or purpose of either side. In fact, remove morality's essence altogether by eliminating the power of choice for your characters. Emphasize the corruptibility of men. Glamorize the supernatural. Dwell interminably on the preparations for and the wreaking of violence and destruction, on the fragility of hope and happiness. Name the scene of action: Middle-earth. Sound like an environment you'd care to envision? Would you "live" there? If so, fate alone will decide its survival and your own. You can visit this predetermined "paradise" by watching/enduring/suffering Peter Jackson's elaborately filmed adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which concludes with "The Return of the King." I hold it is true that what is not worth contemplating in life is not worth contemplating in art. For its dismaying lack of meaningful moral definition, its pervasive pictorial ugliness, the quantity of its scenes of mind-numbing graphic violence, and its minimizing of the value of happiness, "The Lord of the Rings" films--including this one--ought to be shunned and damned.
Finding Nemo (2003)
A Disney/Pixar TRIUMPH!
The story of a hard-headed fish with a gimpy fin and his dad, Marlon... When Little Nemo gets fishnapped by some strange beings in masks, breathing through strange tube-like structures (They're divers) Papa Marlon must brave hungry birds, Sharks in a 12-step program and the affable but forgetful DORY to reunite with his stubborn only child. Along the way, Marlon meets Crush, the sea turtle, and comes to grips with the realities of parenting... that sometimes in order to keep your family close you have to be willing to let go from time to time. A little growing room.... Sometimes parents, not kids, are the ones that need it. A great movie with plenty of laughs for all ages. I've heard they're making a sequel. I sure hope so. This movie was great! I'd love to delve deeper into the lives of these creatures of the sea.
The Green Mile (1999)
Another winner
I think I got the message of the film after about 45 minutes; that there is so much hatred and anger among people, and that revenge is nothing constructive. A very important message which I think the film delivers brilliantly, with John Coffey as a "triumphant card". The supernatural effects in the movie might be unbelievable if you focus solely on them, but I think they're "metaphoring" and make things a bit more understandable, maybe. A wonderful movie that moves at a measured pace on to a very unexpected ending. As with most great movies the casting is almost perfect and each character gives added depth to a rich script. Tom Hanks gives another outstanding performance, his supporting actors (particularly David Morse)actually support and enhance his role. A really great story - not at all what I expected, but much more.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Book was better.
The movie does stay true to the book, although some may consider this a chance for the movie makers to bring more life to the characters and the dialogue. My personal feeling is that most (not all) people who didn't like this movie did so for reasons other than being entertained. I thought this movie was well-cast and well-played. The direction was good, and the cinematography was excellent. I think the film's drawbacks are directly related to the difficulties inherent in adapting a novel to a screenplay, and particularly a novel that is as didactic as this one. There was a lot of explanation in the book, and it would have been impossible to include it all in the film version. I think they did the best they could to balance the need to explain what's going on and the need to keep the film under three hours. Overall: AWESOME movie for people who haven't read the book, or have but not understood it.
Snatch (2000)
Not bad at all
"Snatch" is a lot like "Lock Stock" in many ways. The formulas are exactly the same, and we have quirky characters, and scene-stealing Vinnie Jones always ready to slam a guys head in a car door. And of course a lot of underdogs getting to the top by some freak accident. It's differences are the presence of American actors (Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina) and in some ways it is more American. It's a lot more violent than "Lock Stock" and has more of a darkness to it. I'm teeter tottering whether I like the more violence and darkness in this Guy Ritchie project. I don't know whether I'm a big fan of the violence in this one, or maybe I just don't like hand to hand combat. The darkness is attributed with characters who have more depth than the characters in "Lock Stock". Though Brad Pitt's character is very funny, there is a moment, when his caravan is burning down, of a sad intensity in his eyes, there was nothing like this in "Lock Stock". I think Guy Ritchie's character development shows that he has grown more from his first project. Though he is following the same formulas as his previous work, there is more elements added to "Snatch". I highly suggest if you haven't seen "Snatch" or "Lock Stock", I suggest seeing "Lock stock" first. Because they are highly comparable (as if you couldn't tell) and "Lock stock" will help you bone up on the way Guy Ritchie writes and directs. I also suggest if you're new to Guy Ritchie to get a pad and paper and play connect the dots between all the characters. It's kind of hard doing it in your head like I did when I watched "Snatch."