Change Your Image
sheepmonk2000
Reviews
The Green Hornet (2011)
I say Green as in go and see this movie
This film was quite a surprise. After reading some negative reviews, which were written mainly by the critics I decided I'd give The Green Hornet a go anyway as I am a big fan of Seth Rogen's work and wanted to see how he would fair in this his first action role. Well, it's fair to say he faired very well and although I was expecting lots of action sequences from the film (which were done well, bar some moments of shoddy editing that made it difficult to see what was going on), I wasn't prepared for the comical elements that feature heavily throughout the movie, and I think it's this light relief and comic genius by Rogen and the gang that make The Green Hornet a great success working as not just an straight forward superhero/action movie but an action comedy which really had me in busts of laughter at many different points along the journey. As well as some shoddy action sequences the other points about this film that knocked my score down a star or two, was that Cameron Diaz' character is very much under written and Christopher Waltz' bad guy really doesn't work - in that he's supposed to be funny but isn't. James Franco's cameo was welcomed however, and like I have hinted at already Seth Rogen was brilliant in the role and his sidekick was pretty much that - a sidekick. So all in all this is another solid effort from Michael Gondry and one I would recommend you watch. 6/10 (3*).
The Killer Inside Me (2010)
Both a brutal and boring film
This film is pretty boring. There's lots going on and everything, however, not all of it makes much sense and the entire point to the film as a whole is beyond me. There's nothing special about the look of the film and I found the score to be somewhat cheap and corny sounding, whilst also being inappropriate at other times. In terms of the acting, the film is held together well by Casey Affleck who copes brilliantly with having to portray the evil side of his character. However as I hinted at earlier the exact motives for his psychotic tendencies aren't really explored in much depth and the reasons why he kills people are bit stupid/redundant in the end. There is also one scene in particular involving him and Jessica Alba's character that was extremely distressing to watch and I almost turned the film off as I didn't care for such violence. However, I stuck with it and it was watchable, but all in all a futile exercise and not a very good film. 4/10 (2*).
We Own the Night (2007)
I Own the Right to turn this movie off
As you may have guessed from my summary I turned this movie off before it ended...and here's why:
The plot: derivative
The characters: Stereotypical
The direction: Cliché - too dark (literally)
The acting: Just OK apart form Mark Whalberg who is extremely irritating.
The score: Abysmal
So all in all this movie was pretty terrible. The pacing is so painfully slow that at 45 minutes I felt like I had been watching the film for at least 3 hours. Everything about this movie is boring, boring, boring and my advice to anyone thinking about seeking this one out is simply don't, as you will be left disappointed despite the ridiculous high rating the film has on this website that suggests otherwise.
Paycheck (2003)
I should have been given a Paycheck for sitting through this garbage
This film is pretty bad. It's starts of bright with an interesting premise which admittedly drew me in. After this though the film becomes less and less interesting as Affleck's character utilizes some items he's left himself in a brown paper bag to try and decipher the riddle that has resulted in him now being on the hit list of his former employees and wanted by the FBI. The plot is too convoluted and the clues that guide him towards escape are less than inspired. The direction/camera shots are pretty standard and at times it feels more like a TV movie than a John Woo flick. The action is predicable and cliché and some of the acting is pretty poor from the likes of Aaron Eckhart in particular. So to conclude this film involves some very boring characters doing partaking in some very boring chase sequences in order to live happily ever after...which is something I must try and do after watching this drivel. 2/10 (1*).
127 Hours (2010)
127 Hours went by in a breeze
This film went by in a breeze and that of course is down to Danny Boyle's excellent and provocative screenplay and the brilliant and snappy way in which he edits this film with some vibrant colours and one incredible central performance from James Franco. Going into this movie I was a little sceptical to say the least due to the fact it was trying to tell what I believed to be quite a short story in a whole 90 minutes. However, the film doesn't just deal with the self amputation of the main characters arm (which is filmed tastefully, whilst remaining realistic at the same time), but also the events leading upto and after the pivotal plot point, with regular flashbacks involving the character's life when not trapped under a boulder and also his hopes and dreams once released. Therefore, the film doesn't drag, plus there was lots of bustling conversation between my family and my self when watching this film revolving around the many different ways in which he does try to free himself and the inevitable discussions about how or what we would do if placed in a similar or the exact same situation ourselves. All in all, this a film with great acting, terrific pacing and a satisfactory ending resulting in no doubts sounds of enormous relief from those who are lucky/wise enough to check this film out...I did and was overjoyed with the final result. 8/10 (4*)
The Core (2003)
This movie may lose some of it's Core audience
The premise of this film is of course fairly familiar and it offers little more in the way of entertainment from it's counterparts. Armageddon, for one is better than this film, and to be honest that's not saying much. This film, like the one just mentioned is humorous at points and also has a fair amount of tension as the crew encounter various obstacles along the way. The acting is fine, but some of the special effects a pretty lame and by the end of the movie the importance of starting the earth's core again takes a back seat to all of the problems that seem to arise along the way. Therefore, the movie begins to lose focus and subsequently I began to lose interest. So to conclude, the plot is highly improbable and it's an altogether unoriginal film but with some interesting dialogue and fairly charming characters it just about holds your interest through to the denouement. 4/10 (2*)
Snakes on a Plane (2006)
"snakes on crack"
During the initial introduction to the various characters in this movie the film comes off a little derivative of other flicks of this ilk, as each actor plays somebody we've all seen before in other disaster/catastrophe movies such as Independence Day and Deep Impact. The film also uses some clichéd dialogue and while the acting is fine overall, Samuel L Jackson plays his part a little too over the top for my liking. However, in saying this I think the film is supposed to be a little over the top in general, and if that was it's objective it succeeds very well indeed. The computer generated snakes work well, and there are some great jumpy moments and the film features some inventive slaying by the snakes as many of the passengers fall victim to their anger. The film is funny too, and along with the killings it boasts some great action sequences and is quite suspenseful too. So to conclude, expect a film with it's tongue firmly in it's cheek and also be ready for what quite surprisingly turns out to be a considerably thrilling movie. 6/10 (3*).
John Q (2002)
John Q is pretty desperate filmaking
This film comes off pretty desperate in all the wrong ways. Every line of dialogue appears to be geared towards tugging on the heart strings of the audience and it all becomes very formulaic, predictable, cliché and somewhat boring by the end. The character of John Q is played well by Denzel Washington, but like the film you do get a sense that you've seen it all before. Robert Duvall is pretty inadmissible as the cop whom John Q puts his trust in, Ray Liotta is pretty solid in a small role - although again quite samey. And Anne Heche plays her character of queen b*tch suitably well too, until of course right at the last minute when she finally thaws and gives in to Q's demands. The real revelation amongst the cast is definitely the actress who played Mrs Q (sorry don't know her name). She certainly brings credibility to her part and the film is worth a watch alone based on her performance. That's not to say she deserved an Oscar but she is good in it. So all in all, the film is terrifically unrealistic and lacks any real tension, but the cast are all watchable, if a little familiar and so therefore I rate this film 4/10 (2*).
Domestic Disturbance (2001)
Not exactly disturbing
This film ain't as bad as some of the reviews I have read on this site have made it out to be. Sure, the acting's not exactly Oscar worthy, but it's definitely credible, even if the dialogue is a little cheesy. Some of the plotting is fairly predictable too, but overall the films quite a watchable ride, as the tension does mount throughout as Vince Vaughn's character begins to feel the strain as he desperately attempts to keep his murderous secret, secret. The photography ain't nothing special and neither is the score, but like I said this film is certainly watchable and one I'd recommend you watch one night during the week after your favourite soaps over and there's nothing but the news or reality TV programmes on the box, as this is easily worth it's 1hr 20min running time. Just don't buy it because maybe then you might be disappointed. 4/10 (2*).
Basic (2003)
Pretty Basic
This is a pretty basic flick. Even though the film boasts plenty of twists and turns the way it is filmed is pretty basic and there's lots of talking resulting in at times quite a boring movie. In fairness, however it did maintain most of my interest throughout as I was concerned with the mystery of it all, but the plot became a little too big for itself in the end and was left both with a feeling of confusion about certain points and with a feeling of disappointment at what seemed quite a contrived ending. Anyway, like I said there's nothing to special about this film in terms of the ways it's filmed and the fact is set in in almost perpetual darkness did annoy me somewhat. Some of the acting was pretty shaky too and each of the characters appeared stereotypical for this sort of movie. Overall, the film is definitely watchable and worth a once over, but in terms of repeat viewings I'd say this is a little to tame to warrant any. 4/10 (2*).
Premonition (2007)
A very strange Premonition
This film is quite watchable i.e it is quite intriguing in as much as I found myself quite interested in the story and where or what it was leading up to. The cinematography is pretty standard fair for this sort of movie and the scenery and setting is OK too. I enjoyed Sandra Bullocks performance as the desperate housewife trying to resolve the puzzling p'premonition' she has to live out concerning her husbands death and I thought some of the themes of the movie were good too: faith, hope, love. The main problem, however, is that none of these themes really resonate or come to light until the very last few scenes of the film = her trip to a priest being the point when these such themes first make themselves apparent within Sandra Bullocks character, as she finally seems to come to terms with the inevitable death of her husband and begins to look for answers in relation to how she will carry on once he has passed. The bigger problem I had with this movie, however, is that once the final scene is shot and the credits begin to roll, I was left thinking 'what the h*ll was that all about', as the film is quite confusing in the end and leaves you with a lot of questions in terms of how she manages to break the 'premonition' and move forward and how each day of the 'premonition' had an effect, if any, on the previous/subsequent day. In fact, after the final conclusion of the movie is reached I was thinking what exactly was the point of it all and more precisely what was the point of her experiencing her 'premonition' in the first place. Anyway, I'd watch this film again when in no doubt it appears again on Television in a few years, otherwise I'll be staying far far away from this one - and to be honest - my advice is you do the same.
Orange County (2002)
A rotten apple
This movie is terrible. It's pointless, far fetched, boring and totally dumb. The acting in it is fine but the script their all working from is cr*p and at not one point did I find myself laughing whilst watching this movie, which is a serious point to consider as it's meant to be a comedy. In fact, it appears to try and emulate other movies of this ilk i.e road trip, goofy sidekicks, and zany family members. However, none of these formulaic themes save this movie from the meandering pacing, the poor choice of score and the overall ludicrously of the plot. My advice is to stay away from this rubbish and go and rent 'Roadtrip' instead as that film is at least funny in parts. The only trip this film is heading on, however, is on a one way trip down my garbage shoot. 2/10 (1*)
In the Valley of Elah (2007)
A good movie
This is a good movie. It's starts of a bit slow and the pacing is somewhat arduous to sit through at times. There's little suspense and little tension too, but the film is realistically shot and boasts some terrific performances, most notably Tommy Lee Jones as Hank Deerfield. Like I've hinted at already the first two thirds of this film were quite boring at times, but by the final third things start tying together as new evidence is brought to light and incident after incident reveals more about the characters we were watching than we might have previously expected. The dialogue is really well written, although it did feel a little derivative at times. By the end of the movie though your left leaving quite sad as, like I said, all of the loose ends get tied up and we and Hank Deerfield learn some home truths about his son that may have been better left buried (with his body). A few problems here and there then, but overall a solid picture with some good acting. 6/10 (3*).
Reservation Road (2007)
I have no Reservation about recommending this film
This film held a poor rating on the rotten tomatoes review website, and so I was somewhat sceptical when making my purchase. However, I'm a big fan of Mark Rufffalo and so I thought I'd give it a whirl. And boy was I glad I did. This movie is moving, highly emotive, sad, poignant, dramatic and most of all very involving. The film is beautifully shot, exquisitely paced and not one minute did I find myself getting bored as the acting on the screen was some of the most absolving work I've seen from an ensemble cast for a very long time. My only complaint, in fact is that the terrific Jennifer Connelly didn't get more time in front of the camera, as I felt she brought a real sense of authenticity and delicacy to her character that I haven't seen from her before - and I was very impressed with her performance. Mark Ruffalo also played what appeared to be a very convoluted role brilliantly well, as did Joaquin Phoenix who juggled the many conflicts within his character expertly. Each of the main three cast members brought added depth to their roles and layers of complexities to their characters that I felt was simply marvellous.
So to conclude, this film is a triumph both in direction and purpose and in characterisation. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone reading this review as although it is sad it's also an extremely original/credible take on what is understandably some very difficult subject matter. 6/10 (3*)
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane...but I sure as hell don't
This film is watchable at best. It starts of really slow, and even after a couple of murders have taken place the film still feels stilted as if it's going nowhere. From then on in the film does pick up pace slightly and by the final third we can at last see the characters in a film that up to that point had been shot mostly in the dark. But that's about it - there was one point in the second half of the film involving one of the disposable characters disposal that sent shivers down my spine, but other than that it was a pretty scare free ride. The film was supposedly meant to be quite funny too, but again there was only one incident in the film that I can remember actually laughing at. The characters - like I hinted at earlier, are disposable at best, with each actor/actress turning in a limp performance, which in fairness was inevitable considering the limp script they were all working from. So to conclude, there was little to no suspense, the film was unrealistically plotted and the whole thing felt very redundant indeed. On the plus side, however, the film does posses some aptly fitting music that plays along well at certain points in the film and some of the cinematography was good too. Unfortunately though, these plus points don't save this movie from being an altogether drab affair and one I wouldn't recommend.
Inception (2010)
Inception or Deception?
And by deception rather than Inception I am referring to the title of this movie as although the film is good, it's far from brilliant and I have to say I left the cinema feeling rather deceived by all of the great reviews out there from the public and critics alike who had heralded this flick a masterpiece. But a masterpiece it is not. In fact, it's rather derivative from other films Christopher Nolan has directed, including Memento and The Prestige, with shades of 2001 A Space Odyssey permeating the picture as well. Now DiCaprio, of course is mesmerising as always, yet he doesn't really have a lot to do as he mopes about missing his children without really expressing the distress he feels to the audience very well. Sure he anchors in the film, and in a very subtle way, but to subtle for me - almost boring subtle, which really griped me as I prefer his more flamboyant and boisterous roles. Roles he has played in films such as Shutter Island and Blood Diamond really allow him to work those acting chops of his and usually make for a very entertaining film. This film just didn't let him do that.
The film, although visually superior to most others out there on the market today, left me with a feeling of boredom at times and by the end I felt the pay off I had been desperately waiting for didn't arrive and instead of sharing the elation of the critics and audience alike I was left with a "O my God, was that it" replaying in my mind.
So my advice...watch this film by all means, but be warned, that although it is at times intriguing and thought provoking most of the time it's meandering, plodding and ultimately quite pointless. Good but not that good. 6/10 (3*)
Blood Diamond (2006)
A Gem of a movie.
I love this this film. Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing in it and should have won the Oscar. His mannerisms, his accent and his entire realisation of the character Danny Archer is perfectly pitched in this film. The character he creates is definitely my favourite character of his so far, with an honourable mention to Howard Hughes, the part he again portrayed superbly in The Aviator. Anyway, DiCaprio elevates this movie from a routine action piece to a really interesting character driven story. However, whilst I found his character fascinating I did not care to much for Djimon Hounsou character of Solomon Vandy. In fact, I felt the character was overplayed and somewhat corny. Also, the main storyline of the film is about archer and Vandy etc trying to rescue Vandy's son from the grasps of an evil dictator. However, all becomes a little far fetched and contrived at this point as his good natured son seemingly gets turned into a killer within a space of less than week.
So, to conclude I love this film because of Leonardo DiCaprio character Danny Archer, but as well as that the film does feature some great dialogue, some terrific action sequences and also some beautiful shots of South Africa. Therefore, I recommend that you check this movie out. 8/10 (4*)
Heat (1995)
The Heat is on
This film is f*cking amazing. I mean it really is perfect. The acting is top notch. De Niro in particular is spellbinding as Neil McCauley - though that's not to say any of the other characters are less than charismatic themselves, as each cast member portrays their roles brilliantly. The film is an edge of your seat psychological thriller that really gets under the skin of each character and their motivations. It's expertly paced, is by far Michael Manns best film and it currently holds firm to the number 4 position in my all time top 10 movies. And as if that's not enough to wet your appetite, this film also boasts the greatest gun battle between the cops and the (highly sophisticated) robbers ever to be attempted. So please, please check this film out if you haven't already as I can assure you you will not regret it. 10/10 (5*)
Salt (2010)
And they say Salt's bad for you.
My my did I like this film. I had been invited by my Grandma to go and watch this film when it was first released, but I blew her off thinking it would be another Tomb Raideresque flick that would wind up boring me to death. Boy was I wrong.
The film starts well - drawing you into the mystery behind who Evelyn Salt really is or is not. From then on, she's on the run and the film doesn't slow down one bit. It's a roller coaster of a movie that's relentless with its terrific action sequences, stunts, and bone crunching fight sequences. The film is also full of tension and creates within the viewer a real intrigue into Salt as we invest in her quest to clear her name. It's written superbly, and although some people have called it unrealistic or far fetched, I loved it and thought the plot twists were marvellous.
My advice is you watch this film, as it will go by in a flash i.e it's that good you never get bored...superb. 8/10 (5*)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
A Glorious flick
A Glorious flick - from the editing, to the sound, to the stage production, to the acting, to the costumes to everything else, this film is simply marvellous. It's got heaps more tension than any other suspense driven thriller on the market and it also entails some brilliant dark comedy in the form of Christopher Waltz' character Col. Hans Lander and also the brilliant Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine. How Tarrintino comes up with this stuff is just beyond my comprehension completely as his writing (like all of his other films), is ingenious and the way he then directs that writing is simply incredible.
I have given this film 8/10 (4*) and not 10/10 (5*) as I wanted a better ending than the one we got. However, in saying that, the ending is good and is also in keeping with the rest of the film i.e it all ties in.
All in all, like I said before, this film is marvellous - it's funny, brutal, charming and malicious, whilst at the same time it produces some rather poignant and beautifully shot sequences that can only be described as nothing less than breathtaking and will, in no doubt, bring a tear to the eye of those inclined to be moved by vivid and enigmatic film making at its very best.
So, to conclude, watch this film - it's Tarrintino's best effort since Pulp Fiction and that's saying a lot.
Knowing (2009)
Knowing not all's well
Not all's well with this film. It starts of promising with some good scenes - one involving a crashing plane and the others involving Nicolas Cage's character puzzling over some numbers on a piece of paper. From here on in it all goes to pot. The initial premise is intriguing as your wondering what the numbers mean and where the filmmakers will go in order to resolve the mystery. But do they go far...no. Instead, they go down the route of dealing with the same old themes such as religion and you guessed it - aliens. Now in more capable hands this may have worked, however, the director here is not up to scratch and delivers a very mundane piece of filmaking lacking in any real suspense or terror. To top it off the special effects are quite weak and the cinematography is murky and everything's shot in the dark all the time which is extremely annoying (especially if, like me your watching it during the day). So to conclude, it's worth a watch as it is watchable and the acting's fine all round, just don't expect yourself to get many repeat viewings from this altogether dull fair.
Next (2007)
Next (please)
This film ain't bad. It starts of really well and if I had to rate the first half an hour or so alone I would have given the film 8/10 (4*). However, by the second third of the film things start to unravel as what starting off as a brilliant premise quickly evolves (or dissolves) into a run of the mill thriller, with not much happening and whole lot of talking. By the third act the film really does sink, as although the stakes are raised in the action department much of the initial thrill felt in the first 30 minutes has all but evaporated as the film gets weighted in cheesy dialogue and poor plotting, resulting in a Luke warm ending with some substandard and barely watchable shoot outs. So, to conclude I would have loved to give this film 6/10 (3*), but it really goes to pieces by the end, and when it comes to films I view the last impression as being the most important, not the the first, and so it gets marked down considerably, because of what I have said was a very promising start ending in a not so promising way. I would, however, recommend this film due to it's first third being really good, and it's second third being good - but be warned - the third third doesn't live up to the expectations previously set in the first two acts.
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Law Abiding Citizen smells corrupt to me
This is an awful film. I watched this film at the cinema (UK), and so I can't really remember much of it now, but what I do remember is thinking that the opening scenes were really promising as Gerard Butler must witness his family being murdered. From then on in I thought this film was going to be great after such a strong start and with endless possibilities/plot routes to go don I didn't think the film could fail. Boy was I wrong. For some reason it goes down the route of Mr Butler's character offing those who offed his family. However, there are certain scenes in film that come across as sheer lunacy in that they are so unrealistic and far fetched it's hard to imagine anyone come up with the idea. Plus, I seem to remember the film becoming really confusing by the end, either that or it was so damn stupid that it seemed to confuse me. Anyway, my advice would be to steer clear of this one because...it's cr*p.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
A total delight.
This film is marvellous. From the characters to the costumes to the set designs, Tim Burton got everything right with this his (in my personnel opinion) best film to date. Edward is portrayed brilliantly by Johnny Depp as he brings vulnerability, wit and charm to the role that really launched his career as one of the most talented character actors working in Hollywood today. I love this film and you will too. It's incredibly touching, whilst filmed with high brow comedy and tortuous drama. One scene in particular, involving Edward and Winona Ryder's character Kim is so heart breaking it's untrue. But rest assured I won't go into the scene - instead I'll let you watch it and come to the same realisation as I did...and that is, that that scene and Edward Scissorhands is one of the most enchanting fairy tales ever made. To verify this and my general enthusiasm for this film, I will leave you with the summary of RottenTomatoes (a prestigious film review website written by world renowned critics) verdict on it:
"The first collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands is a magical modern fairy tale with Gothic overtones and a sweetcentre". Score - 91%
Dirty (2005)
Dirty is disgustingly bad
Dirty is disgustingly bad. It took me 5 minutes to arrive at that verdict and then I switched the film off and threw it in the trash. Me buying the film was a leap of faith as it was as I had read the negative reviews but was so enticed by the premise that I had to give it a look - but boy was that a mistake. So, some may think it unfair of me to write a poor review for this film after only watching less than 5 minutes of it, but hey those reading can make their own mind up on the legitimacy of my opinion. Anyway, the film - it's bad oh so bad. It starts off with a very stereotypical character performing a very corny voice-over containing some awful dialogue. The film then flashes to a murder, which is directed dreadfully, as the camera is all over the place and motive of the murder is ridiculous, as basically there isn't one, only now apparently the murderers partner feels real bad about it...I mean come on, how far fetched can you get. So to conclude avoid this movie at all costs, and if you do want to watch a GOOD movie about police corruption, then check out either 'Training Day', Brooklyns Finest' or even 'Street Kings' as these are all top notch. Chow.