Reviews

This is truly the correct incarnation of Batman. There is so much happening in this film, and yet none of it seems rushed in any way. It is a true comic book film, yet it never seems campy or even very unrealistic.

The strongest point is easily the cast. Christian Bale portrays Batman and Bruce Wayne both with such realism. Perhaps a key point is that Bale avoids trying to make Batman look like Bruce Wayne in a batsuit. Bale realizes that to a degree they are different personalities, and he conveys this in just the right way. Cillian Murphy is wonderful as Jonathan Crane, and even Katie Holmes, who is way too young to be a lawyer, manages to perform her role with excellence. The real treats are Michael Caine, who is truly the perfect Alfred, Morgan Freeman, who adds a bit of down to earthness, and Gary Oldman, who makes Jim Gordon a likable guy who grounds Gotham in a sense of reality (after all, not EVERY cop can be corrupt!) Batman Begins really succeeds when it is explaining how things come together. You can actually start to understand the mysterious (and previously silly) aspects of the character. And Bale does such an excellent job of creating the character through real emotions that real people feel.

And of course, the direction of Christopher Nolan has brought it all together so well. This is a great film. To call it the best Batman movie is to simply not do it justice. I have always believed Batman was the purist, most praiseworthy superhero. Now we have a film that does that ideal justice.

I was amazed at the scope this film seems to create in its short time span and focus. The film is predictable in its overall themes--"Osama" seems to be made for a Western audience at times, though it does not bother with the usual cliches of "foreign subject" films which treat the audience like idiots. You will have to put some work in to appreciate this film, but you will feel like your attention is appreciated.

The actors are a wonderful cast in natural setting, and the film seems naturalistic and almost documentarian in style. The cinematography is amazing, often focusing on objects and the body, but not overly so as many "artistic" films do.

This is an excellent artwork, and I would call it one of the most educational films I have ever seen. It's short length of about 1:20 is an indication of the directness of the film and its focus. It is epic, but not by wasting time with beautiful landscapes or slow motion scenes. It is beautiful, but not with prettcy colors that contrast in "intellectual" ways. It is artistic, but not because it is in a foreign language. It's because this is a well made film about a fascinating topic, executed in rare form.

..why?

This is a bootleg video that has to be seen to understand. It has become a sort of urban legend. A lot of people try not to see it. But you will see it. Luca$ wouldn't dare bring up the issue of pirating it, for fear it may gain more noteriety.

And when you watch it you have this conflicted feeling that you will either die or just brush it off as a bad joke.

You have to make someone else watch it to cleanse yourself of the filthiness too. It's like when you are collecting really weird fetish porn and someone finds it and you say "Hey look at this hilarious website I found!" No one will believe you had it to laugh at. Unless you get to them first. So before anyone finds out you have it or have seen it, explain to them the proper context, and that while you may own a copy of this film, you do not necessarily condone the views expressed in it.

On a side note, this film should be used as retaliation for the prequels being so horrible.

The reason why this show was a flop was this: 1) The only people who watched it were fans of his comedy acts. 2) Those people knew all his redneck and other jokes by heart already 3) The show was just another forum for him to tell these same jokes.

Now I noticed the second season they actually started trying. But it was too late.

Much has been made of the films topic of terrorism and the likelyhood of the events occuring in real life. I remember when the film originally released, one major gripe was the unlikely events that occur.

But I submit that this is not the major revelation of this film, rather, it is the amazing detail and research that went into it. Words like "Hamas" and "terrorist cell" and "jihad" were paramilitary terminology when this film originally showed, and the techniques and doctrines of terrorist groups, now so familiar to us thanks to CNN, were the knowledge of a few military buffs.

Yet this film explores these things with great accuracy and surprisingly fresh relevence, all in a well acted, well developed plot, which, at the enthralling conclusion, hits at (what I feel) is the very heart of the issue that is terrorism. And without being too offensive to either side of the issue.

Please see this film, it is exactly the kind of movie that needs to be made now more than ever, but never could be made again.

Thinking back, I suppose I have now seen many (sometimes good) films that follow the same recipe: One man makes a difference.

But this film is an exception in so many ways:

1) It was made in 1982, so it came before many of them.

2) It has amazingly well-displayed historical significance.

3) Great performances in a near-flawless, frank scrpit.

This film does not bother the viewer with an opening montage of scenes of the main character at various ages ("Dragon", I'm looking at you). This is an amazing film that anyone of any religion, race, or nationality can and should appreciate. With its subtle relevance to today's situations in that part of the world, this is a history buff must-see.

Watch this film and see great performances (an obvious oscar went to Ben Kingsly), excellent cinematography, and a wonderful inspiring story, whose essence soars well above the corny, do-gooder mentality of other pitiful efforts of "bio-pics".

10/10

It only took about 10 minutes of the footage to discover the point of the film, but instead I get and hour of anticipation, an hour of action, and an hour of boring garbage, that we've basically seen in other Vietnam War movies. We get the point, the war sucked. Now tell us a freakin' story.

6/10

The Pregame: Spanish with English subtitles. I had been expecting a slow, but dramatic and subtley comedic film about two men and their relationships with eacthother and the women they love, who are both in comas.

The Game: This film consisted of some pretty weird turns and twist. Almost had an American Beauty quality. Sometimes funny, but much of that was lost on my speaking a different language. Got a little graphic at times, but I can appreciate the intent. Definitely not made for an American mainstream audience.

Postgame Report: While the characters were truly unique and had much personality, I never felt able to attach to any of them, because the film never focused enough on either. Also one character does something that I we are supposed to fell sorry for him for, but I was not convinced there was ample reason to side with him.

This film takes some risks, and does so with moderate success, despite great acting and what must have been excellent dialogue. 6/10

What an excellent concept for a film. I have always believed that where so many comic-book films have failed is in their inability to recognize that all great superheroes are human. They have lives, parents, friends, lovers, flaws, jobs, and they even sit on the crapper occasionaly.

Perhaps this is why I so deeply appreciate this film, more so than Shamalan's previous effort, The Sixth Sense. Unbreakable examines an underexplored gold mine of dramatic goodies, and does so with deep and complex dialogue and plot development.

The major flaw of this film is that going into it, as with all Shamalan films, I was expecting a great surprise ending. Instead, I got one that, while very clever and equally dramatic, didn't have the impact that Sixth Sense's did.

This is countered, however, by the raw emotion of the ending, and the sense you get that the story has only just begun, done very much in the comic-book style fashion.

A great film, not without flaws, but worth at least one viewing, if only for the excellent performances and great dialogue. 8/10

A suprisingly good film considering the circumstances of its production. Features performances from no-name actors that rival the top talent on the planet (sadly none have persued a career).

Also features the the god-like ability of Christopher Nolan to write perfect dialogue. Dialogue is what carries this story, which is about a man who likes to follow people for material for his books. Well shot, VERY well edited, even better written, and amazingly well performed.

This movie has everything a great film needs, except people who have seen it. 9/10

I can now understand why so many people were upset six years ago when Titanic won all those oscars: LA Confidential is 10 times the film.

I won't get into the complicated plot, except to say that at the end of the film, you won't have to have gotten it to appreciate the story's final events.

There is great acting from all involved, especially Guy Pearce, who, through his amazing versatility, manages to seem nerdy and cool at the same time in every one of his scenes. There is also a prophetic role from Russel Crowe, and Kevin Spacey, and Kim Bassinger are perfectly cast.

A real treat of a film, that in many years could be seen as a truly artistic period piece as well.

10/10

You know, now that I think about it, I don't think there is more than one woman in this film.

This is interesting, because the fact is: this is a guy movie. This is the kind of movie a dad should watch with his son when he's having a hard time. This is the movie a guy would not be ashamed to feel emotional about.

It is the story of a man who goes to prison, but ends up coming out a better man because of his experiences. And it all ties together so nicely. The ending is especially touching, even as it moves from the main character (Robins) to the supporting character/narrator (Freeman). BY the way, the film was nominated for seven oscars and somehow didn't win any, which is a tragedy.

Every person in the world should see this film, even if you have to see it on TV, at least give it a shot, you will feel emotional at the end, but like the lead character, you will be better for it.

10/10

The Good: Bruce Lee's first film, being a fan of the dragon man himself, I had to buy this (at $10, what a deal!). I immensly enjoiyed this film thanks to a few key ingredients: Beer Friends Lowered expectations You can't take a film like this seriously, you have to enjoy it for what it is: a Bruce Lee vehicle. And there is plenty for fans to look for, especially some nifty camera work involving the novel technique of zooming the camera in very quickly at key moments before a fight.

And relatively speaking, the plot isn't horrible, especially for this kind of film. Lee's later works would be better written and feature some actual acting talent from lee, but this classic marks the beginning of a great chapter in the life of the legend.

And there's boobies. 9/10

Having recently viewed and reviewed Citizen Kane, I found myself with the prospect of not liking a single black and white film. Since my confidence in my ability to review films fairly shouldn't depend on the color of a film, I was anxious to review a black and white film positively. I have found such a film.

Seven Samurai. I had heard of it before, but never seen it. Now I am glad I did. Akira Kurasowa's "classic" is truly on of the great treasures of cinema. An amazing cast of characters in one of the greatest and most enthralling plots, often repeated, but never with quite the skill of this one (see A Bug's Life, Magnificent Seven).

I find it odd that many people call this an action film. Such a title discredits Seven Samurai, because the word action has become so derogatory in recent decades. It is true this is a kind of war sotry, with great action to boot. But the strength of the film is not in the awesome battles or the well choreographed and well filmed action sequences. It is the large group of characters, each of which the audience cares about. And although these days many of the characters would be called stereotypes or archetypes, it is important to remember, that this is the film that made them so.

Seven Samurai is THE original. And it should be no surprise that so many films have copied it. Kurosawa and the cast are all geniuses who make this film what it is. Every single actor in the film is believable, inspiring, entertaining, and at the same time, fits in to the puzzle perfectly, knowing when to be noticed and when to not. The not-so-obvious star of the film, Kurosawa's amazing talent for frame composition, brings it all together in a way that no other could, or should.

I have only one regret for this film, the fact that it is in black and white. What a beautiful film it would be in color, as every shot is an artwork itself. Everyone should see this film. Not just because it has "action" or because it is a "classic." Just because it is Seven Samurai.

This movie can definitely be called one of Spielberg's best. Cinematography is excellent in this film, and the special effects serve the film in perfect manner.

The premise and story are excellent, and while this writer generally favors a focus on the premise and the philosophical side of film (see Gattaca, A Clockwork Orange, Blade Runner), Minority Report succeeds in enthralling the audience. The premise is NOT the film, and so the it serves the plot entirely.

Humor is well woven into the script, so I think the general public will be enticed. Acting is excellent, though I felt sometimes the script called for emotions at the wrong time. Tom Cruise is the superstar that he is because he commands an excellent on-screen charisma that fits this part perfectly.

Dialogue is intense, though corny at times. Rest assured, however, there are several great lines in this film that I will remember for a while. Definitely a future DVD purchase. 8/10

This film is like a monty python trip on steroids. Intelligent directing portray a story of madness, discovery and the dual nature of society and psychology. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt bring their A game, and Madeline Stowe give an unnoticed but excellent performance. A masterpiece.