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mib456
Reviews
RED 2 (2013)
Seriously?!?! Why???
This movie is so ridiculous in its plot that I can only imagine it was greenlit to give everyone an easy payday. There had to be a lot of adlibbed lines because there is no cohesive dialogue. It seems the actors were told they would travel to Europe and nice locales to be filmed near historic places and say a few lines and run through some pyrotechnics and all will be done on 1, maybe 2 takes.
Sir Anthony Hopkins was the only one even trying to act and though the scene was interesting, the sorry director missed a great opportunity for a clever tete et tete between Hopkins and Bryan Cox as the 2 Hannibal Lecters. But why expect THAT when the whole movie was a director disaster. The old Cannonball Run movies had better chemistry and performances from those calvacades of stars.
I gave this farce a 4.
300 Spartans: The Real Story (2015)
Production Values Are Amateur Hour
Though the content is extremely interesting and seems detailed and accurate, there is no professional editing or story telling. There are repeated repeated statements and facts, the various "experts" repeat information that they've each said independently, and the backdrops behind these story tellers are annoying and distracting.
One can almost forgive the horrible acting and the re-enactments can't have been directed by even stuntmen, however what's most distracting is the cutaways and editing flourishes that are so random and varied that it reminds one of a first timers attempt at Power Point. I learned a lot of information from this but I wouldn't use it in a middle school class.
Troy (2004)
What's wrong with the original myth?
I really do not understand why Hollywood felt the need to change the story of the Trojan War, to make it more and at the same time, less tragic? What is wrong with making an EPIC war, last an EPIC time span? Why have Achilles live past where he did in the myth? Why did he need to survive the FATAL Achilles heel shot, long enough to die as all leading men die? For a movie, based on nothing, Troy is not too bad, but as a movie based on a centuries old myth, it pretty much stunk. And we wonder why our kids are failing in the schools? Because a lot of them base their studying on what they get from movies and TV shows, instead of books.
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
A very good sequel to a very good Sci Fi Movie
This movie DOES live up to the hype and expectations of the original. This could very well be the next great Sci Fi movie series. After disappointments with Star Wars and The Matrix, the people who did Riddick, played to the strengths of the main character and along the way, laid the guidelines for a unique and growing mythology and vision. While Riddick does strike one as vaguely familar to the original Dune movie, it also moves at a pace that finally seems to marry that much desired link between a good SciFi movie and good video game. Personally, I don't see the need for these things, but I can that this movie gets it right. The movie does not look like a big cut scene (ala T3), but it helps to teach the viewer of the Riddick universe and how it all works in conjunction with what they, the producers, want you to know of the mythology. There are holes and a few flaws, but there has yet to be a flawless sequel to a SciFi winner, since Empire Strikes Back. When you watch the movie, you are drawn in, while all the while harkening back to Pitch Black. The "Mercs" are more cartoonish than I would have liked. Johns was a serious guy, who's character was developed and understood. Toombs is seemingly very 1 dimensional. Other than greed, you just have no sense of why the man is doing and going through, what he does. I do see why they didn't spend too much time on him, there were many "main" characters to try and develop as it is, maybe too many. But this movie is more of an epic than the original, so I can forgive that as minor. There was a touch of Conan the Barbarian in the final scene, but again, why NOT do an homage to Arnold? Without HIM, a lot of the "Action heroes" we have today would not be as good. It would be very nice to see Vin and The Rock team up to do a movie, maybe even something in this series? Just a hope to anyone in Hollyweird that may be reading.., (smile)
Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)
Great Singing Cowboy Western Send-up
To me, this type of movie is what made the TV show, Briscoe County so great!! So many hidden meanings and insider jokes. It is fun for all ages, but if you are over 35, and loved watching old westerns when you were a kid, this movie will bring back those memories, as well as make you smile to ourself for all the things they throw in here. But you'd better be quick witted, they'll sneak up on you.
I Am Sam (2001)
A very touching movie that is less about reality, & more about the power of love
I have seen and heard the comments for reviewers and others that say that this movie is not realistic and that Sam could not possibly raise Lucy on his own. Well that IS true, but this movie is not about right or wrong, real or artistic license. It is about the love of a child and her father, for each other. What they are willing to do, to be together and just love one another. I cried, and I cried again. This movie works hard at tugging at the heart strings, and it succeeds. It did drag at points, and it did make me want to make it stop. But there are moments in this film, that go from touching to uplifting to down right flat out funny, all within the span of 2 minutes. Truly amazing and inspiring. If you do not get touched by this film, then you have a hard heart, and do not believe in the miracle of love. Sean Penn's performance was amazing, better than I expected, and Michelle Pfeiffer must have learned some good skills from her used to be husband David E. Kelly. She was as cut throat as any lawyer I have ever seen on screen. I also want to applaud the sweet cameos and small parts played by big name actors that helped to make this movie a winner.