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15 Till Midnight (2010)
Ambitious film, not for viewers with short attention spans
I can see this film becoming something of a niche cult hit. While it looks like a slick Hollywood production on the outside, it has a daft, intellectual storyline hidden beneath the surface.
Our story starts with Lukas (Brandon Slagle) and Sera (Andrea Chen) enjoying their second wedding anniversary. The next day Lukas awakens to find Sera missing. But not only is she missing, but all of her possessions as well as evidence of their life together is missing too. Lukas goes to work and his best friend (Dee Martin) tries to talk him through his depression, even taking him out for drinks that night. In mid barhopping, Lukas meets a young woman named Nara (Devanny Pinn). The two go home together and when they awaken the next morning, Nara believes that she and Lukas have been married for two years, and numerous items owned by her have also appeared.
Lukas threatens to report her to the police so she leaves. Then at work, Lukas's friend tells him that he and Nara are expecting a child. Lukas goes home, finding himself perused by a man who resembles one of the Agents from the Matrix a bit too much, who attacks him. Lukas finds himself pursued by more agents and soon finds Sera again, who has been trapped in a paradox of her own.
By the end of the film, Lukas is apprehended by a group of men calling themselves "The Knowers", explaining that he himself is trapped in a loop and jumping between different parallel versions of his life.
The film takes an extremely dark turn at the end, which I won't spoil. I will say instead that this is a film that will leave you thinking for hours after you watch it. I found plot points clicking in and suddenly making sense after the credits stopped rolling, which is something many films can't and don't do these days.
Aesthetically speaking, the film makes great use of many New York City locations. The music, while a bit much at times, is reminiscent of Hans Zimmer or James Newton Howard. The performances are solid across the board, each actor coming into their own throughout the film.
The film may be a bit heavy handed for a lot of viewers, especially in this day when Fast Five opens to 90 million dollars. This is a film for the portion of the audience that still uses their brain, and doesn't need big stars to draw them in (for example, Inception probably wouldn't have had the audience it did had it not had a hot director and top shelf cast).
If you come across this film, and you enjoy films that make you think, then this is definitely for you. If not, I'm sure you can get Beverly HIlls Chihuahua or Step Up 3 in the 5 dollar bin.
Jersey Girl (2004)
Funny, touching story of a father raising his daughter
Big thumbs up on this one for me! It was far funnier than I thought and very touching. Top notch performances from Affleck and Carlin in particular, but also from the entire cast, even the dreaded JLO . If you're looking for another Jay and SIlent Bob Strike back, hopefully you know that by now you need to watch this from a different point of view. Kevin Smith is finally moving on into territory that he's touched upon in Chasing Amy (meaning human relationships as the key focus) and he does it well.
A lot of critics have slapped the film, not because of the actors, who seem to be getting praise across the board, but because of Kevin Smith himself moving into NON-viewaskewniverse territory and saying that the story is too sappy...bleh...they can think whatever they want but myself, my fiance, and the audience I saw it with loved it.
If you've got a date, or are in the mood for a SMART, WELL WRITTEN, HEARTFELT film, then this is for you...
If you can't understand that Kevin Smith doesn't want to spend his life making Snoochie Boochie films (which I still loved-don't get me wrong)...then please try and put that aside and enjoy it for what it is...the story of a father and his child.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
The Terminator returns to the top of the sci-fi heap.
My first impression of T3 was that it was going to be another retread of the same storyline established in the first two installments (evil robot sent back through time, good guy/bot is sent back to protect the target). The original trailers for this film didn't alter that impression. I had the feeling it was going to be lackluster.
Was I ever wrong.
The Story starts with ominous music by Marco Beltrami, quite a departure from the classic Terminator Score by Bad Fiedel, but it's fitting, after all this is a new story arc. We meet up with John Connor, now in hid mid 20's and living as a transient and keeping no records of his identity (no phone, no residence, nothing) as to prevent him being tracked by any assailants from the future, should they appear.
Two terminators appear from the future, one in the form of the female T-X, and one in the classic Ahnuld form. The T-x immediately starts killing it's targets in the present, each of which will have a significance with John Connor in the future.
John is hurt and breaks into a veterinary clinic to get meds to ease his pain as he mends his wounds when the T-X shows up for a target......and it's not John Connor... ...and that's all I will say...you should see this for yourself. The second half of the movie deals with the RISE OF THE MACHINES aspect and you won't be disappointed. Forget the convoluted, arrongant, cold Matrix Sequels and revisit the reigning king of sci-fi film series.
Hulk (2003)
HULK SMASH PUNY IGNORANT NEGATIVE REVIEWS!!
Forget any bad review you've read of this. It's just whiny fanboys complaining about things that don't even matter. The hulk looks amazing, and to anyone who complains that he looks fake...WHAT IS THERE FOR YOU TO COMPARE IT TO??? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN INCREDIBLE HULK!?!??!?!
Buy anyway. Solid performances throughout...the best comic movie acting hands down and then some. You will cheer for the Hulk and feel for the characters.
Go see it and make up your own mind.
Ghostbite (1996)
could this be one of the worst movies ever???
As a fan of low budget horror, I've obviousely seen some poor movies in my time. This ranks as one of the worst.
Filmed in Dallas, this story (of sorts) follows a police officer who is investigating crimes that end up being the doing of a monster who returns from the dead every few years or so.
HOrrible stock footage that makes no sense whatsoever is inserted here and there (footage of birds flying and other cutscenes from national geographic videos I suppose). I suppose it's added simply to extend the running time of the movie.
Do not waste your time on this no matter what's in it for you. The people that gave this movie a ten on the rating here obviousely worked on it and still have some sort of emotional investment in it.
X2 (2003)
X-MEN is the new STAR WARS
No movie has made me feel this was since seeing the original star wars movies as a kid. NOTHING HAS.
I don't want to give away plot details of the movie. If you are looking at this then you know what the movie is about. I don't need to explain any of that.
I left the movie feeling ecstatic and as if I had lived the experience of it myself.
After that experienced cleared I can say...X2 is one of the best movies I have ever seen. In the wake of the downfall of star wars, this is the only movie that gives you that same sense of wonder and compassion for the characters.
I know it's a longshot, but I hope to look back on the X-MEN series as people look at the original Star Wars trilogy.