Reviews

Don't expect high art. But if you're looking for a movie kids will love that is not horrible for adults, this is it. It's surprisingly funny all the way through and I hate 99% of kids movies. Plot line is thin and awfully predictable, but go see a documentary or an indie flick of you want something critically acclaimed. John Leguizamo is terrible and wasted here. Characters are so thin as to be transparent. Again, you have to look past this and it will be really funny and enjoyable. One of the few kids movies this period that I would go to. Rating is scaled to the type of film.

I was surprised that the issues dealt with in this film were not only so significant and relevant but that they did it in a way that was not overly simplistic. Other than the slightly after school special ending, the movie was phenomenal. My 10yo loved it also.

The songs mostly didn't blow me away, although Common was pretty incredible (uncommon?). There were a lot of big laughs from both me and my daughter.

Gets a 10 because anything that is that funny that combines a great message in a way that both children and adults can relate to is extremely rare to encounter.

Unfortunately, this was horrendous. There is essentially no plot and the movie seems to ramble senselessly from one poorly done action sequence to the next. It is nearly impossible to keep a movie cranked ala Speed for an entire movie and this fails miserably. Even worse than the meandering weak plot which can be summarized as he's poisoned and seeks revenge, is the fact that the movie introduces a love relationship that no one feels and seems comic in its attempt at profundity. The end (no spoiler) is painful because it attempts to somehow make sense from all this nonsense and lend a deeper meaning suddenly to a character about which we really don't care at all about. I think I was being generous giving it a 2 and only did so because I like Statham so much.

Bleak film of death and a depressing afterlife. Lots of nice little touches, like with the music - you only pick up on it after talking with people about it. From what I understand not completely faithful to the book, although I didn't read it. Good humor, oddly uplifting due to the romance.

Saw this at Sundance this year, was one of the 3 best we saw. Patrick Fugit was brilliant. Shannon was also strong. If you like dark films, you won't be disappointed. Can't comment on technical aspects of film, since i'm not in the industry.

Summary: Great cast, good writing. Fun times by all.

Laugh out loud. It was better than Cats.

This goy thought it was a hilarious film. I was sometimes laughing so hard I couldn't hear the next line. Most films of this type run out of laughs half way through, then revert to weak plot to fill until the conclusion. Hebrew Hammer was great to the finale.

Word of caution, don't go in expecting great art masterpiece. This is basic humor but lots of it. Enjoy.

Just miserable. If you love Dylan, you will love this, kind of like an ugly child to a mother.

Extraordinary cast, couldn't figure out what to do with them all, just jammed them in without good writing, what little plot exists would have been better left out.

DON'T SEE THIS unless you are a die hard Dylan fan.

First, Bob Dylan is the centerpiece of this movie. The fact that he plays a character similar to himself named "Jack Fate" ought to be enough to bring back your lunch. Dylan stands in the middle of an extraordinary cast as they all speak to him and around him, without him - thankfully - participating in the dialogue. While this is better than him opening his mouth more, it makes for a really choppy and incoherent movie.

The cast is nothing less than incredible, but with so many top tier actors, what do you do with all of them? Answer - make roles for them. This leads to a contrived plot, no character development, and the viewer wondering what the hell is going on. It is actually painful.

Having said that, if you are a huge Dylan fan, you should not miss this because he and his band play quite of bit during the movie. Unfortunately, while I think the old Dylan was powerful, what is left of him is not worth wasting your time on.

Go see a different movie.

Best film of Sundance 2003. Ryan Ghosling is spectacular, for those of you who saw him at past Sundance in The Believer (or Showtime). Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey also top notch.

The most powerful aspect of the movie is how well newcomer Matthew Ryan Hoge brings the viewer to question any easy classification of the young killer, with powerful implications for world politics and domestic hypocrisy.

It is actually really good. Patrick McCartney is a good actor, Amber Phillips is strong. Noll's stupidity is overdone and gets a little tiring. The end is a little trite, too. Don't expect plot, just a series of vignettes about working minimum wage, really, that seem strung together by this romance. But it is hilarious!

The first half moves much too slowly. Pretty boring and doesn't matter if you sleep through it. Second half is extremely good. Battle scenes and monsters really good. Plot is believable. Jar-jar still annoying. Samuel L. Jackson and Yoda are great. Enjoy.