Change Your Image
illjwamh
Reviews
Fantastic Four (2015)
Hating this movie must just be the "cool" thing to do
This movie wasn't amazing, but it in no way deserves the score it currently has (3.9). It seems to me that people went in having already decided to dislike it, and nobody wants to be the one to go against popular opinion by saying it wasn't bad.
The one bit of criticism that I feel has some merit is that the climax is rushed. The movie is actually quite short, so filmmakers certainly had enough time to put more in if they'd wanted. A wasted opportunity, I felt.
Aside from that, though, I enjoyed it. It was supposed to be an origin story, and it did that very well. The effects were infinitely superior to the 2005 version, and the acting was up and down. I think Chris Evans was a slightly better Human Torch, but I prefer Kate Mara's Invisible Woman. Miles Teller's Reed was a bit weak at times, but nothing too horrible. By far the best performance was Reg E. Cathey as Dr. Franklin Storm; it's a shame his part wasn't bigger.
People have been comparing this unfavorably to movies like The Avengers, and I really don't think that's fair. True, it's not nearly as good as The Avengers, but few comic book movies are. Had this come out in say, 2008, the response would have been mostly positive, I think. Especially since, as I said, it was certainly much better than the '05 attempt - and not just in effects, though that was definitely the most obvious improvement.
I hope all the impotent internet rage doesn't dissuade them from making a sequel, since they've set themselves up nicely for one and I'd like to see it. I don't know what people were expecting, but we were promised an origin movie and we got one.
Are We There Yet? (2005)
I want to strangle those kids
Oh good lord, if I ever encounter children like the ones in this movie I will be in serious danger of committing a violent felony. These kids are the most obnoxious little brats I have ever seen in a movie, and while I realize that's what the filmmakers were going for, it completely destroyed any chance of me enjoying this film (which, due to its rather contrived plot and cheap attempts at humor, were suffering already).
I watched this with the kids I work with, and thank god I was getting paid because otherwise this would have been time wasted in the absolute worst way. Avoid this travesty at all costs.
Ong-Bak (2003)
Unbelievable
This movie is incredible. Or, to be more accurate, Tony Jaa is incredible. The stuff that he does in this movie is simply astounding, and it's only made more so by the knowledge that he's ACTUALLY doing it, without any wires or stunt doubles or anything. I wasn't surprised to hear that this film was made as a way to showcase his abilities.
That being said, that's pretty much the only reason to watch the film. Oh, it has a plot, and a workable one at that, but certainly nothing to write home about. And really most of the other characters are little more than a way to hold that plot together. The double-takes are kinda neat, but they get old after a while. Other than that, I really liked the cinematography as well, but who ever watches a movie for that? If you're an action fan, this one's definitely for you. Even if you're not, odds are you'll stare open-mouthed more than once at some of this stuff. Truly amazing.
Serenity (2005)
I can't even make up a word to describe how awesome it was
It's true, too. I want to say something like "Joygasmic" or "Amazificent", but they just don't do it justice.
First off, I will say that yes, I have watched Firefly and was anticipating this movie the way a five-year-old anticipates Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Given that, it should be taken as a remarkable thing that this movie exceeded even my expectations for how great it would be. Everything that was good about the show was there, and more, and everything a good sci-fi should have - everything a good MOVIE should have period - were there. Those two things are kind of one and the same, but I don't want anyone to think that they couldn't enjoy this movie if not familiar with the TV show. Prior exposure to the characters does add to the experience yes, but it is not by any means necessary.
What isn't to like here? The characters are extremely well written and we feel for every one of them. The dialogue is fun and witty, and yet never too unrealistic or inappropriate to the moment. The overall story is enthralling and you really can't discern how it's going to play out as they keep throwing surprises at you. There's action for people who love action, great filming techniques for anyone who's into cinematography, and the music is out of this world. At the most important moments in the film it does just what it's supposed to do and just adds to the emotions you're feeling as you watch it.
I laughed, I cried a little, and I whooped in excitement. And, in a truly rare case, there were actually a couple of times where I was doing all of those at once. I cannot recommend this movie enough, and I can't say any more or else I'll give something away and I really don't want to.
Rabu Hina (2000)
Not to be redundant, but...
The manga was better. Now this is not to say that the anime was not good. It was hysterical. It's just that the manga is that much better, and fans who have read it first should not expect to be blown away. However, if you haven't read the manga, you will be beside yourself with laughter for the first several episodes, and you will find yourself pulling for the characters throughout the series. And then when you read the manga (you won't be able to resist), you can repeat these feelings all over again.
However, there are some downsides. This series is crammed full of filler, and can only be matched in that aspect by Dragonball Z (which, by the way, is 291 episodes long). Also, if you're going to watch this, subtitles are a must. This is one of the worst - if not the absolute worst - dubs I have ever seen. Kitsune for the most part sounds like a drunk Dixie Chick, and Su has some sort of accent that sounds like an unnatural blend of Russian and Indian. Motoko sounds like "Izzy" from the Digimon dub, and Shinobu and Naru, while having voices that relatively fit their characters, are acted adequately at best. All this is amplified one hundred times when you take into account that the original had such a stellar voice cast, in fact one of the BEST in anime. Keitaro is probably the best in the English cast, but still can't hold a candle to Ueda Yuji. No one can squeal like this guy!
So all in all, I highly recommend this series to anyone, anime fan or just a fan of good laughs. Just make sure you read fast.
Spider-Man (2002)
A Good Movie in its Own Right
Whether you're a die-hard long time fan of Spidey like me, or you don't even know who Peter Parker is, you will enjoy this movie. That's because while this is an incredibly accurate adaptation of the classic Marvel comic, it is also just a very well made movie. The characters all interact beautifully, which is in part due to the spectacular performances by Maguire, Dafoe and Dunst. Also, although his part was small, J.K. Simmons did a hilariously wonderful job of portraying the pig-headed J. Jonah Jameson.
In addition, there is something for everyone in this movie. It's not overloaded with action scenes, as some may fear, and it has enough to satisfy those who desire such. The special effects were amazing, despite a few obvious instances of a CGI Spidey, and the fight scenes were very fun to watch. The only thing I wished there had been more of were Spidey's wise cracks. Nothing is more enjoyable than his sarcastic banter with the super-villains. However, there was enough to keep me happy.
All in all, this is a great movie no matter what kind of movies you like. I've seen it twice already in just the first three days, and I plan on seeing it again.