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Grown Ups (2010)
Ex-SNL'ers went on vacation and came back with this movie
After watching this movie, it was very apparent that not much thought or effort was put in to the making of this movie. To me, it looked like a paid vacation for the SNL'ers courtesy of Happy Madison. The jokes were stale and not well executed by the entire cast. Case in point, I laugh at any fart jokes in a movie, however, the farting mother-in-law blaming it on the dog wasn't funny. All the ex-SNL'ers were just going through the motions and getting paid. The only one who was making an effort was Kevin James, so much so, that at times, he looked as though he was trying too hard to fit in with the SNL gang (overacting). The storyline/plot was lacking and extremely shoddy. For example, we understood why these guys loved their Junior High Baseketball coach, however, after 30 years, why would a basketball coach entrust his ashes to these guys to scatter? Did he not have a wife, kids, boyfriend, whatever? That part seemed strange to me. Also, the zip-line at the water park was absurd, and frankly, outright dangerous. Lastly, cooking bacon on a bug zapper? I know where Sandler was trying to go with this scene (gross out factor), but it just wasn't working for me.
There are plot holes, inconsistencies, extremely bad humor and even worse acting throughout the movie. Glad I saw it on DVD than in the movie theater.
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)
Another Bad Asian American Flic
What is so great about this movie? Someone please tell me! This movie was not well written nor well made. I give credit to the actors making the most of a rather poor script, and poor casting. Now I always start a movie with an open mind, but there were so many flaws in this movie that I just couldn't get them out of my head. For example, where were the parents! Who lets a bunch of kids go to Las Vegas unsupervised? I also coudn't get a feel that these guys were in high school. It felt more like a thirty-something asian mafia group. They looked older and they conducted business like seasoned hoodlums, not bratty high schoolers.
The premise of this movie was a good idea, but not executed very well. Like the other asian american film "The Debut", this movie succeeds only because it is "Asian" in nature. Cast Leo Dicaprio, Elijah Wood, and Tobey Maguire, and you have a big flop on your hands. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 3
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Campy and cheesey but still effective
Kill Bill. What can I say? If the boring title doesn't instill any desire to see the movie, maybe the brain behind it will. This was a very typical Quentin Tarantinoesque project. Sly humor, twangy guitars as background music, YAKUZA, deviant sexual behavior, need I say more? Plus all the gore. If you can stomach the Black Knight in "Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail" getting chopped up, then you should be able to take this. Some of the scenes were drawn out and maybe a little overdone, but it's all in good fun. My rating? On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being best, I give this a 3.1428571428571 or pi.
The Debut (2000)
Susmaryosep!
After all the Pilipino hype surrounding "the Debut", during it's "debut" a couple of years ago, being filipino american I decided it was my duty to drive over to Blockbuster and rent it. Frankly, I don't see what all the hype was about. The story was weak and cliche (remember "Some kind of Wonderful"?). Gene Cajayon attempted to portray every type of filipino found in the US today (Coconuts, gangsta's, FOBS, and car crazy-big muffler-basketball playing-hip hop dancing fanatics). Some of the portrayals were OK because most of the actors and extras were basically acting like themselves...no acting experience needed. "Rufio" gave an uninspiring performance. I have the feeling the he didn't want to make this film in the first place...and it showed (I guess Lou Diamond Phillips was too expensive). He and his brothers were obviously the only ones with real acting training and experience and it showed among the others.
I wasn't sure if this was a comedy or a serious film. It was a complete overdose of everything Pinoy. Sure, seeing all the pinoy characteristics was amusing, but isn't it something most fil-ams see on a regular basis? And portraying caucasians as dumb and idiotic filipino-wannabes was abhorrent.
Overall, I am embarassed for this movie, and since I am a filipino-american (btw I classify myself as a "coconut") I know I am in the minority amongst my other fil-ams. If this movie didn't have Jon-Jon, Jingy boy, and Lolo, it would have gone straight to video. Look for it at your local Wal-Mart DVD discount bin soon.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
What a discombobulated mess
I am utterly surprised that "Matrix Reloaded" got a 7.5 out of 10 on the IMDB poll. The movie was confusing, period. I found the conversations that took place between the characters, long, drawn out, and wordy. I should have brought a dictionary and a guide to Modern Philosophy to try and understand what these guys were talking about. Was it me or did all the characters look terrible? Especially Laurence Fishburne! Looked like he helped himself to the all you can eat movie set lunches one too many times. There were way too many characters, therefore, no character development, lots of talk, but not substance, lots of action, but way to drawn out (been there, done that, just saw that). I swear I thought I was watching "Star Wars meets Mad Max and Superman meets When Harry met Sally meets The Power of Easter!" all rolled into one movie. I give it a 4 out of 10. I recommend seeing the movie, only if you go to a matinee, have a free pass, or have someone else pay. If you paid full price, you got jipped.
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Just Another War Movie
Lots of movies have been made concerning the Vietnam War, most of them in recent memory were excellent (Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam). All had their own little unique perspectives on the events during the war. "We Were Soldiers" however, is just another war movie, and not a very good one. The plot is slow very slow and predictable, the acting is so-so, and character development is terrible. As a member of the viewing audience, you feel no connection to the characters, therefore it's hard to conjure up any kind of emotions during the scenes which try to pry any emotions out of you. Even the extra actors portraying Viet Cong soldiers didn't do a good job of playing dead. I am serious...I could swear one of them was trying to hold back laughter while trying to play dead.
But the hardest thing which I could not overcome while watching the movie, is the scenery. Even though I have never been to Vietnam, some of the better movies made about the war made me feel as though I have been there. They all followed a basic formula for the scenery, some, even shot on location in Vietnam. Now I have no idea where the war scenes were shot for "We Were Soldiers", but I could swear that they were shot in the mountains outside of Los Angeles, CA. Since when were there oak trees in Vietnam? The war scenes looked like a bunch of guys from Los Angeles who drove to the Angeles Crest forest, got out of their BMW's, did a reenactment of a battle that occurred in Vietnam, then went home.
Overall, this movie is just plain boring and uninspirational. It tries to use the premise of remembering those who died in a bloody battle in order to make a movie and a few extra bucks. Well, I donated my $8.50 to watch this movie and I wish I had it back. I wouldn't even recommend this movie as a rental. In a year, this movie will wind up in the discount VHS bin at Wal-Mart.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
What the??
After reading some of the positive reviews for this film, I found one central theme common in all of them "This movie followed the book very closely". If this is the case, then I don't want to read the book. The plot was unoriginal, yet semi-interesting, the acting was terrible, and the character development, non existant. John Travolta's portrayal of a barbaric alien (with a shakespearean twist) was annoying. The directing was awful. Why do they refer to rats as "rats" but man as "man-animals", and the climax of the movie was pathetic. I had no feelings for any of the characters. The director obviously tried to invoke some tears in the audience by having two lovable characters commit hari kari, but it didn't work. Nothing worked, actually, I take that back, the only thing that worked was the end credits, a sure sign that the movie was over.
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
I don't feel like it's 1980
Freaks and Geeks is a show about jr. high students in 1980. I was in junior high in 1980 and I am not ashamed to say, I was also geek. I was expecting this show to bring back some memorable (and maybe some not so memorable) experiences of that time period, and it failed miserably. The show tries to follow the same path that made the Wonder Years so successful, and at the same time, create its own identity, which just isn't working. The stories are boring and I while I am watching the show, I don't get any feel of it taking place in the early 80's. One would think that the show taking place in the early 80's would be part of the allure to tune in. If memory serves me correctly, a geek in 1980 spent the majority of his time playing space invaders, computing on either an Apple or Commodore Vic 20, or lusting over Bo Derek after her performance in "10". Not exactly the winning ingredients to make an interesting storyline. Furthermore, the music, settings, clothing, and even the cars are all wrong. It might as well take place in 1969 and called the return of the Wonder Years.
Overall, Freaks and Geeks does not hit its target audience, those of us who were freaks and geeks in 1980. Although it is a good idea and I am sure it may be somewhat successful, I won't be tuning in on Saturday nights. This show still needs some work....maybe hire some writers who actually were freaks and geeks in 1980, but they are probably all multi-billionaires today and who wants to watch a show about prepubescent guys trying to get the high score in Asteroids anyway? Just joshin!
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Typical Bond
What's the deal with Christmas Jones? She was completely out of place, unbelievable, and useless. Typical Albert R. Broccoli eye candy.
The movie overall moved very well in spite of her. The chase scenes were exciting and well choreographed, and the story line was good. For the Bond fan, this won't disappoint.