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jdmxrain
Reviews
Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
too narcissistic
From the very first second that this documentary starts Madonna is full of her own ego. She is very self-centered from the get-go. Watching this documentary I understand why none of her relationships in life last very long. And I mean more than just romantic relationships, she's had a lot of broken friendships.
Anyway after 7 minutes of watching it, I decided to skip around to the Warren Beatty parts, I was really curious about him. After his scenes, I skipped towards the end. Yea I skipped around a lot in this documentary because I didn't think it was worth watching the entire hour and 59 minutes.
Sure I like some of her music, but her act of using her sexuality is nothing new. Also spoiled divas are nothing new in this world. In the end she's an entertainer and nothing more. I'm not impressed with her quests for spirituality either.
I skipped a lot with this documentary, I was really interested in her relationship with Warren Beatty. She's very disrespectful, she calls him up and he's supposed to meet her but there's some misunderstanding and instead of working it out like a woman, she decides to hang up on him.
To Madonna people are just expendable, its all just a game to her. I don't think people should take themselves seriously but its like she mistreats people and I don't like that. I get why none of her relationships last and why her marriage probably didn't last.
Warren Beatty also tries to talk to Madonna and bring her to reality, he's not mean either, he actually seems like a very nice man, he speaks in a normal voice and tries to reason with her. I can see why it took a long time for Warren Beatty to commit to a woman because with a circus trainwreck like Madonna, even the nicest guy in the world would run.
Warren grew up and married Annette Bening and Madonna didn't grow up at all. Not even with kids in her life. She's going to be one of those lonely old people in the end with no one by her side when she really hits her senior years.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 (2007)
annoying
I've seen a few of these episodes and I don't like it. Kate treats Jon like he's her dog, by bossing him around and being rude and overreacting on every little thing. She treats him like he's one of the kids. She doesn't respect her husband and dominates him. Jon always looks like he's miserable.
Its like he goes on with whatever is going on and whatever Kate tells him to do. They say the octumom is bad, well what they're doing isn't so great either. They're not giving their children any privacy and kids need that growing up. I'm sure they keep doing the show because they couldn't support their family any other way.
Jon is the only one who works and one income isn't enough to support 10 people so I'm sure the show pays them well. Kate says she has a type A personality, yea I get that but it goes beyond that with her. On the plus side, it seems like the kids are treated equally. Its also a boring show, and the way Kate acts is annoying. I really don't like her and Jon.
Santa Baby (2006)
pretty good
This movie is pretty good. Most TV movies don't impress me much, especially if they're holiday themed movies, most of the holiday xmas movies just seem so stupid and completely cheesy. I tend to avoid them as if they were the black plague. So I was really surprised by this movie. I rented it from Blockbuster but you can buy it from Amazon.com.
I think what makes this movie work is that they have a good cast. Jenny McCarthy is taking better roles. I remember Ivan from that old show "Jack and Jill." He is so gorgeous. Anyway, I loved seeing him together with Jenny. Yes the story is familiar, but it was just done so well, that its worth watching. I'd buy it on DVD.
Alone in the Wilderness (2004)
amazing
Even though the documentary is not slick its pretty cool. Its amazing what one man in his fifties accomplished. The documentary follows him throughout the months from building his cabin to surviving the winters in Alaska. Someone told me about this movie and I was lucky enough to find a torrent and download it.
It was really cool to see a normal person accomplish something cool. It just shows you that if you're motivated enough then you can pretty much do anything you set your mind to. One can only imagine what the makers of stonehenge must have gone through, I believe that those people were just as motivated as this man was.
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
surprisingly good
I love this movie. I like the fact that its not preachy, its not a morality tale, and its not one of those annoying "god vs. the devil" type of movies. Its basically about the devil and his perspective. I love Al Pacino as the wicked devil and Keanu actually acts well in this movie. I especially loved the ending. Its a damn good movie.
I'm sure not everyone will love it but I definitely do. I don't think every movie needs to end with a morality tale, I think its great that the movie had fun with the myth of Satan. I love that the movie keeps you guessing towards the end, not everything is tied up with a pretty ribbon and yet the movie isn't depressing either. I was surprised. I'd watch it again.
The Ninth Gate (1999)
a supernatural mystery
This is the type of movie where you get to discover things along with the main character. You don't have to wait for the character to catch up with what the audience already knew, I hate those type of movies and I'm happy that this isn't one of them.
The best way to describe it, is that its a supernatural mystery. Its not one of those movies where they give you the answers, there are answers, but there is also a mystery even towards the end and its one of those movies where you need to use your imagination and make your own conclusions.
Movie going audiences aren't used to that these days anymore. I admit, that I expected more, I wanted to see the Ninth Gate but at the same time, well you can use your imagination to fill in what that might be. I think its a good idea to leave some mystery as to what it might be like.
Basically, the plot is...a rare book dealer is hired to track down three books by a rich rare book collector. Along the way he meets this mystery girl and she helps him in his quest. Its implied in the end, that she's the devil. Giving you a different perspective on the devil and in this movie, the devil isn't evil. She defies every stereotype there is of the devil.
I really liked that. I love the creepy and mysterious vibe to the movie. I would definitely watch it again and own it on DVD. The ending is not to what I was used to as a movie viewer, but I think these days that's a good thing. Its different and you can draw your own conclusions too. I especially love Johnny Depp in this movie. He fits the character perfectly.
Titanic (1997)
decent but too long
I hate how this movie starts off, the first 20 minutes are boring with the crew looking into the old ship. Even when you're telling a great story through film, 3 hours is just too long. I don't get why she threw the necklace into the ocean. Also its hard to understand why anyone would be impressed by a ship.
Its just weird and why people would think a man-made ship couldn't be unsinkable. That's just gullible and that's not the movie, people actually thought the Titanic couldn't sink. Still, three hours? I could watch two different movies within that time span.
Overall its a decent movie, and a fun disaster film and yes while I do have my complaints, I do believe its a worthwhile movie overall. I would definitely own it on DVD.
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
stupid and boring
I don't like Woody Allen movies and the purple rose of cairo is why this is. Mia Farrow's character is a complete wimp, she really is, instead of leaving her stupid abusive husband she just stays with him, her life doesn't get better towards the end. She's completely naive and gets taken in for a ride.
The ending? Well its unhappy, she doesn't get the guy and her life doesn't improve. Her life isn't any better from the beginning. I don't care about Woody Allen's realism, I just don't care. Okay. He should have developed her character, made her stronger, instead she's weak and pathetic and I don't respect her.
This movie is a POS and a waste of time. I will never watch this tripe ever again.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
boring
I didn't even wait until the movie was over. I took it out in the middle. This movie is boring and filled with tripe. I love Russell Crowe but not in this movie. I know it won a lot of awards but ugh I just couldn't take it. The plot is so boring. I hate the old school look, I know its set in the 1940s/1950s or whatever and because its old, I just couldn't relate to it and sit through it.
I don't like Kevin Spacey and the tall old guy either. Kevin Spacey is so boring. He has no charisma. He always acts the same in every movie too. I don't even know why he even made this movie. Why Hollywood made this movie? Its so horrible, and boring. I thought I would die of boredom towards the end.
The Women (2008)
it was okay
I will never watch this movie ever again. It was so boring, plus it was a chick flick without movies. Yes I do know the original 1930s movie of "The Women" didn't have any men actors in it either, so they were just following that. It just didn't feel real without any male lead actors in it. It was like this boring women's soap opera.
Okay this is a major spoiler, but I don't like how in the end she takes her husband back. In the original movie, she did the same thing. I also felt like the character Crystal Allen should have been given a bigger role, I wish she had done something that made her really hate you and that she was a real threat to their marriage. But I felt like Eva Mendes's portrayal of the other woman was flat.
Anyway the movie was just a one time view for me, I wouldn't watch it again.
Wanted (2008)
its hot
I love this movie. This is a major spoiler but I thought the whole "loom of fate" bit was ridiculous. That was a major plot hole. Where did the loom come from? What is this fate thing that is running it? Why would fate get involved in the lives of mortals? Why does fate care so much about having a balance in the universe? So there was no logic in it.
Also it seemed silly to take orders from a loom. It would have been better if they had just left the whole loom bit out. Overall its a great action movie, it has Angelina Jolie in it and she's great. I like that he left his snarky and horrible girlfriend, she was really annoying and I love how he quit his job. hehe.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Princess of Thieves (2001)
it was all right
This is one of the first movies in her early career as an actress. I thought it was well acted and the plot was pretty good. I won't watch it again, for myself it was just a one time thing. I think it would appeal to kids and to families more than to adults. I was a little disappointed with the ending.
*Major Spoiler* She doesn't end up with the prince and I really wanted her to. I think they were going for a more realistic ending but honestly, life is realistic enough. I don't need "realism" from fictional movies. In the movies the girl is supposed to get the guy and vice versa. If you invest your time in a movie then you should get the happy ending. So no I won't watch it again.
Legend of the Seeker (2008)
I love this series
I haven't read the books, on a whim I just saw this on hulu.com and decided to play it. I was surprised. I ended up loving this series. I *rarely* love fantasy. I don't even like the chronicles of narnia and lotr, but I do like the legend of the seeker.
The acting is great, the special effects are pretty good for a TV show, and I like the plot. I love the chemistry between Richard (the seeker) and Kahlan (the confessor). The actor who plays Zed is pretty good and really funny as well. I really hope they keep this series going because its so good.
Finally an original show that's not just another cop/medical drama. So yea give it a chance. btw, I love that Kahlan is strong, intelligent, funny, and still very feminine. She's a great heroine. That's something that we never got with Xena.
Britney: For the Record (2008)
well done
This time Britney Spears has explained herself very well. You get to see the real person in the documentary, and not just the pop star. Even though she is a successful person in terms of career and money, this girl doesn't have everything. No privacy, personal time, and not much of a childhood. Simple things like a simple stroll in the evening with a friend are out of her reach.
This documentary goes into Justin and Kevin a little bit, and even she asks herself what she was thinking for shaving her head. I guess no one really can have everything. In some ways it must be great to be famous because of all the perks, but fame comes with its own cons. I do feel for her as a human being. But the way that she talks about it, it just doesn't sound too great in the long run.
Britney says that she just copes with it. That's a really sad way to live life. I feel that this is the most honest interview she's given so far in her career. It was also a good insight on the fame thing.
Twilight (2008)
cool flick
I haven't read the books before seeing it on Thanksgiving. Yes I'm one of those people who goes to the theatres during the holidays. Anyway, I decided to see it on a whim and liked it. I am not obsessed with it like some people are. I've never been like that. I will admit that some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy.
I felt some of the romance parts were rushed like when Edward said that Bella was his life now. That's a little intense, especially when Bella is in her late teens and is just introduced to the vampires. Bella doesn't act like a normal person would act to a vampire. She wants to be with Edward but doesn't really take into consideration what a life with Edward might mean.
I also have another question. What does Bella want, besides a life with Edward? In the movies, I like it when heroines have their own strengths, their own passions. At least in LOTR, Arwen had her own strengths as an elf princess and I don't even like LOTR. In chick flicks, the leading women have their own passions as well.
Bella doesn't seem to have many interests. She also ditches her friends in school for Edward all the time and I don't really like it in the movies when characters are total loners. You need at least a couple of friends in life besides your SO. I would have liked her character to have been more developed.
So its a cool movie with its flaws, but I don't get the obsession with it. I'm in my twenties, but even when I was a teen, I never got obsessed with things. I'm not knocking love either, love is important, but so is being able to be a happy person with or without someone.
Four Christmases (2008)
it was okay
I feel like I've seen this type of movie before, "Meet the Parents" comes in mind. I don't really like Vince and Reese together, I didn't think that they have the greatest chemistry as a couple. In some ways it was cute and in other ways I just felt that it was overdone. It was just a one time movie for me. I wouldn't want to re-watch it.
I just felt disappointed by this movie, because I feel like it would have been a cute and funny movie and it just wasn't. And Reese wasn't as charming in this movie as in her previous movie. In this one she just acted very bland. I think its just because she didn't really have much chemistry with Vince. Save your money, get it on rental when it comes out on DVD.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
its okay
I used to love this movie but not anymore. Scarlett is ridiculous, pining over a guy that is already taken. She's just sad and desperate and pathetic. Also I don't get how Melanie is so naive and stupid about Scarlett. When Scarlett finds out that she can't finally stand Ashley, she loses the one guy (Rhett) who loved her. Even at her worst, even when she was unlovable, he still loved her and tried to understand her and tried to help her and be loyal to her.
But I really don't respect Melanie. She just acts like an idiot. The acting by everyone is so melodramatic. Also Ashley is annoying. He's a wimp and a coward. I don't get why Scarlett married guys she didn't love and that she couldn't stand. I like the theme song. I think if they ever remake this movie then they should make the characters less ridiculous. I never want to watch this movie ever again.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
why its not a classic to me
So the premise is that one person's life affects dozens of people, far more than we could ever imagine and that all of us have value and purpose, and there are some religious aspects thrown in. I do agree that we affect people even when we don't think we do and even when we don't even want to.
I used to love this movie as a kid but I don't love it anymore as an adult. I don't respect George anymore because in my honest opinion, I think there should be a balance between helping other people and following your dreams. Making yourself a martyr at the cost of your life is not altruistic. At least not to me.
Also the movie seems to imply that if the right people don't show up to encourage people that people will give up. Like George is shown that Mary would have become a spinster without him being born. I believe that we should always be our best friends, because someone can't always be there to encourage us.
We really carry ourselves through life even though we may have family and friends in our lives, but we really do carry ourselves through life and we just can't give up on ourselves and our own lives just because the right person didn't show up to encourage us. Its great when others encourage us but all of us have been through horrible periods in our lives when no one was there.
Sometimes you have to be your own best friend. I don't believe that another human can be everyone's martyr and they show that its okay with the character of George Bailey. Sure its wonderful to help people but to be a martyr? I don't think so. No way. Also its implied that rich people are evil.
Why couldn't they have shown another rich person that was nice and decent, to balance out the point of view? Its not wrong to want to be wealthy and a lot of wealthy people contribute to charities. I mean look at Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and others like them. The wealthy contribute far more to charities than any income bracket. Not all of them are evil. There are good wealthy people too.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
cute but only for fantasy nerds
I know they wanted to tell this great epic of Tolkien's LOTR trilogy but I just felt like they could have made it into one movie instead of making three long movies. I think this movie is more for the fans. Yes its great that the director took the fantasy books seriously but frankly it just didn't do it for me.
I tried reading LOTR and couldn't get into the books either. I think you must really either love fantasy or love fantasy and be a fan of the books. I think hobbits are weird. Maybe its just me but yea they're weird. Overall I feel like the LOTR movies are for nerds just like the Star Wars movies are for nerds. I'm not even going to bother watching the other two in the trilogy.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
just doesn't do it for me, spoilers ahead
Rachel Weisz did not return for a third mummy movie and the actress who played her character in this third one has no chemistry with Brendan Fraser.
I was disappointed that Weisz did not appear in this movie. Also it felt a little weird because the third movie features mummies from China and not Egyptian mummies.
I felt they should have stuck to the Egyptian theme but focused on other enemies. Anyway the movie is action packed but I think I'll stick to the previous two movies.
I really think they should have tried really hard to woo Weisz back into making the third installment. I hope there is no fourth movie. This had better be the last.