Winds_of_Destination Reviews

Iron Man (2008)

Possibly one of the best comic book adaptations ever

[8/10 · 3 May 2008]

Like a few, I was one of the people that though this movie would totally blow, based on the trailers. So, I went in with very low expectations. I walked out with a smile and exclaimed to my friend "That was pretty good!" It really was. The movie is a bit slow moving but done very well. A very selfish man, Tony Stark (played surprisingly brilliant by Robert Downey Jr.) is hit with reality and turns against what he's worked towards all of his life. But it's a force that won't go down without a fight.

The script for the movie is not incredible, but the way the cast delivers it is. Robert Downey Jr. is great; he's very convincing, and even when he changes to a more heroic type, it's not overdone and he hasn't changed as drastically and unrealistically as some might think.

Other actors include Terrence Howard, who was good, Tony Stark's friend in Afghanistan (I forgot his name) was good, Jeff Bridges was pretty good (with the exception maybe of his last scene in the film), and Gwyneth Paltrow, who was excellent with the exception of the showdown. She overdid it in that scene, and I was surprised by the sudden cheesiness that overcame her.

Like I said, the movie is a bit slow moving, but when it delivers, it delivers. The action sequences were good, though my least favorite was the climatic showdown, which was too clichéd for me. The movie as a whole is clichéd, but its done intelligently, so the clichés don't feel as clichéd.

I was happily surprised. I thought this would be another Fantastic Four, but I'd stick it between Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins, which are my favorite superhero movies. I haven't seen a ton of comic book movies, just mainly the superhero ones, and this is one of the best of those superhero-comics-turned-movies. It's a fun movie the whole family could see and enjoy. But you can honestly enjoy it. 8.0/10.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

It'll give you chills

[7/10 · 3 May 2008]

I haven't seen the original 1956 version, but I saw this one last night, and I can tell you, it was a scary good time! Starting off with what I think is a scientifically brilliant alien invasion, the movie kicks off with Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams) picking a flower and bringing it home. The next morning, her husband is "different", as she says. Many people begin to notice their spouses are "different" in the same way, and she goes to her friend Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) for help. As more and more people begin to get affected by this disease, they feel alone, and the suspense tightens, and the first appearance of a pod really puts things "out there".

All the performances are good, and I thought the two lead roles with Brooke Adams and Donald Sutherland were fantastic. They are part of a foursome that feels isolated, and these "emotionless zombies" seem to be closing in on them, and things are getting a little too hot for them. And they are aided by a mysterious psychiatrist who dismisses the whole "alien invasion", but for all they know, he could be one himself!

That's what makes the film so good. You don't always know whose good and who is bad. A lot of the people have obviously been "snatched", but some of the snatched seem to be smarter than the brainless zombies that are beginning to parade through the San Francisco streets, and that's where the film gets you thinking and gets you worried. While a lot of horror/thriller films are unsuccessful when they reveal their "faceless" monsters, this film is all around scary. The births of those who are being snatched is disturbing and disgusting, and the suspense of isolation is a dark tone that purges the film, making EVERYTHING scary.

It's not PG though. Yes, that's what it's rated, but in no way can it be viewed as a PG movie- it's really more like a strong PG-13. There is frequent scary scenes, disgusting and disturbing images, and some nudity. I thought that with this being PG it wouldn't be scary, but it was.

I was excited to see the film, and was pleased when all was said and done. One of the best quotes in the film is when Nancy says, "Maybe they are from outer space...you know they don't always have to come down in metal ships". If there ever were an alien invasion and war on mankind, it wouldn't be in the form of giant metal ships that blast us with their ray guns. No, it could be something like this, and that's another reason why this movie is so terrifying and brilliant. It gave me chills. 7.6/10.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Possibly the most inspiring film I've ever seen

[10/10 · 28 April 2008]

I saw "Dead Poets Society" for the first time last night. It was magical.

Every character, played to perfection by all actors, was very impressionable and very...real. Yes, they're poetic nerds, but it was still so easy for me to connect with not just one, but all of them. I understood their emotions and reasoning, and at the end of the movie, felt inspired "to seize the day". It really left me feeling that way.

Some people might feel like the end scene is a bit corny, but to me, it didn't feel corny, thankfully. To be honest, I wasn't 100% satisfied with the end, but I wasn't disappointed either. The majority of the film is light-hearted and easy-going, but it certainly does get darker and slightly depressing when it reaches the climax. The film doesn't feel as great in the aftermath of the climax, to me, since its really different from the rest of the film, but its not clichéd, and it still feels very real. But it just kind of puts the "carpe diem" thing to the side and replaces it with darkness, which is out of place. But that's what happens in real life.

When all is said and done, the power of the movie leaves you dazzled and inspired. I never felt more inspired and joyful at the end of a movie; this movie is that good. I don't know if I would say its one of the greatest films ever if you look at it from a technical and analytical point of view, but it is one of my favorites. Seize the day. How? Watch this film. Its great! 9.8/10

There Will Be Blood (2007)

A dark and marvelous cinematic tale of greed

[10/10 · 21 April 2008]

I don't think I've ever seen a movie like "There Will Be Blood". It takes time for the greatness of this film to sink in and happens upon reflection, but it truly is a great film.

Directly after viewing the film, I felt it was overrated. But not anymore.

"There Will Be Blood" is pretty much a movie about a determined oil man who sets up a well in Little Boston, but others want him to share the wealth, and he gets greedy. And yes, there is blood.

Daniel Day Lewis gives the performance of a lifetime here, playing a generally nice man who is being driven insane by the greedy people around him, and his own greed and lust for success begins to overtake him. Paul Dano plays opposite him, an equally greedy religious boy who feels that he is a chosen vessel of the Lord, and feels that he deserves what he desires. And of course, he wants money for Daniel Plainview's success, and uses his religion as a vehicle for money and revenge. There aren't too many other important characters aside from H.W. Plainview, the son of Daniel, and Henry Plainview, the man who appears to Daniel eighty minutes into the movie and reveals to him that they are brothers (or are they?).

Every performance hits you like a bombshell. None of the characters, with the exception of H.W., are even remotely likable, and they don't have redeeming qualities. It's a bitter movie to take in because of all the selfish people involved, but its a classic one. Each actor does a very good job with the exception of Daniel Day Lewis, who does a great job.

The first half of the movie establishes Daniel Plainview's time in Little Boston, drilling oil, and focuses mainly on oil, until a terrible oil accident. The second half focuses on his transformation from a business-driven man to a man gone mad by greed, resulting in a climatic conclusion. The final scene, in my opinion, is one of the greatest put to screen. The actors, characters, and script all work together beautifully, like an elegant but gloomy dance.

The only thing that doesn't fit into the rest, is the music. It only goes with some of the parts, but the music is really wacky in some parts and sticks out like a sore thumb, degrading some of the scenes a little.

This might be a hard film to take in because of its somewhat slow-moving, oil-based first half, then dark and disturbing, quicker-paced second half. With the exception of the music, the movie is flawless. Every line is delivered with significance and conviction, and all in all, this film should leave you breathless. I really hope its remembered with the old classics, because it boasts of their impact. Don't miss this. It's a film that sometime in a life, everyone should see, and it should be remembered forever. 9.5/10.

Men of Honor (2000)

Great movie, but feels very rushed

[8/10 · 24 March 2008]

I didn't have much of an interest in Men of Honor, but sat down and watched it with my family. I loved it! The very opening of the movie is very powerful, mainly because of the father, and the story picks up around ten minutes later. There is a big story packed into this movie, and even though it is a two hour movie, the first hour and a half happen so fast, and the last half hour finally slows down to a good pace, but it's over before you know it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. does a good job, almost great. He can be a bit cheesy at times, but 99% of the time his role is done very well. He seems like a real person with an indestructible will to overcome the racism that is keeping from achieving his dreams.

I like Robert DeNiro even more. He is always a phenomenal actor, and in a way, his performance reminds of that in "Raging Bull". The character is different, but he has his moments that seem similar to Jake LaMotta's. He is a cold hearted and racist man, but does get some sympathy points when you realize that him and Carl Brashear are driven by the same motives and have just gone different paths.

I definitely recommend seeing this movie, even if it seems over very quickly. 8.0/10.

Cloverfield (2008)

Awesome...well kind of

[8/10 · 21 January 2008]

I would love to say that this movie is awesome...but I can't. It's without a doubt very good but the film still has some killer downfalls.

Seen through a hand-held camera from start to finish, a group of teenagers are throwing a going-away party for their buddy Rob. But the party is crashed after a monster devastates Manhattan and gives it one rude awakening.

Many people had problems with the camera, but I have to say, I think most of the people are wimps. The camera can do a good deal of shaking, especially when the characters are running, but the fact that a whole bunch of people have thrown up is completely ridiculous and just means that they are sensitive to even the slightest movement. I liked the camera work a lot; it gave a great sense of realism and had me interested the whole way through, even in the boring 15 minutes that the movie opens with. My only complaint with the camera is that it occasionally cuts a couple of minutes ahead at times where Hudson is forced to put the camera down, so you may miss some of the action.

The horror element is pulled off really well; the camera work makes it really scary because it seems very real. Some of the images are very shocking, but not the monster. You never really see the monster up close and personal until the end, in which its not very intimidating. But it does a great deal of damage to the city and its most terrifying when you can't see it entirely.

The characters are done almost entire realistically. Their mission through out the movie isn't entirely convincing when you think about it, but their behavior, facial expressions, reactions, and emotions all seem entirely human, which a lot of movies cannot convey for the story's sake. But with this movie it's done really well.

So far I've given my props as to why I think its awesome, and I make it sound awesome, but it isn't. The first fifteen minutes are technically boring, but the camera immerses you. The ending is also very disappointing; its extremely abrupt and there is no resolution at all. This leaves you wanting more, wanting closure, wanting to know how the story ends. I'm really hoping for a sequel because there is so much more to know in the movie, and without resolution, the whole movie itself seems kind of pointless.

One last positive note: I really liked the humor in this movie. The movie doesn't try to be funny, the humor is just like real-life humor, and it can provide good laughs.

While there is much to give praise to in this movie, there is no ending to it and the fact that the camera makes you miss some of the action and suspense really hurts the movie. It had all the potential to be great if there were some kind of resolution, but it just doesn't happen. I do recommend it, although most folks won't like the ending of the movie. 7.5/10

I Am Legend (2007)

First two acts great, the third OK, and the very end a disaster

[7/10 · 15 January 2008]

It was definitely different than I expected. I AM LEGEND is the story about Colonel Robert Neville living in a post-apocalyptic NYC that has been cleared of humanity everywhere, all over the globe. He spends his days hunting food and gathering supplies with his only family, his beloved dog Sam. He tries making contact with any survivors at noon. At night, though, he locks himself up and listens as the vampires overrun the city.

However, the movie is not about the vampires. The movie is really about Robert Neville, a man desperately hoping for contact with the outside world. Its about his character, the way he copes with everyday, and his strong-willed mission to find a cure for the vampires. But things aren't so easy for Neville; accidents happen, and Robert Neville does encounter them on several occasions, and these encounters are rather intense.

A common criticism of the movie is the look of the vampires. I'll admit, they aren't scary and don't have the best special effects, but the main focus with them is suspense and surprise, which is done really good. Although the surprise is a little overdone; the movie is filled with pop-up moments, which to me, is not real suspense. I don't mind an occasional pop-up, but there are many in this film. However, these are my only complaints for the first and second act, and these are minor. My main problem is the third act.

The third act is where it really strays from the book (I never read the book but already know the ending). The third act includes a lot more humor (which is funny, but a bit out of place), less humanization, and a showdown that isn't very climatic. It culminates in disappointment, and suddenly ends. The entire resolution is done in a 30-second voice over, and this movie deserved a much better ending. It feels like its not supposed to be over yet, and my friend and I both agreed that it was like we were just watching the movie and someone pulled the plug and says "Ok, the movie is over. Bye." It was extremely disappointing. I didn't even know it was going to end until the voice over came.

This movie could've been great had the third act stuck to the book (I like the book's ending better), and the ending wouldn't have disappointed. Will Smith does a great job of adding elements of sadness where it is needed and really fleshes out the character, Robert Neville. I even have to say the dog was great; it seemed human because it was really the only other character, and I like their interpretation of Sam rather than the books. But that doesn't excuse the decaying third act. 7.4/10

Drake & Josh (2004–2007)

Wonderful sitcom

[7/10 · 23 October 2007]

Drake & Josh is easily the most promising of TeenNick's many shows. The majority of the jokes are funny, as they should be, and the acting itself is hilarious, especially from Josh.

The show is really just about two kids whose parents got divorced, then married, and now they live with each other. Drake & Josh are completely opposite in personality: Josh is sarcastic, uptight, and a bit of a nerd while Drake is laid back and cool. Despite their quarrels, which tend to be hilarious, the two are an inseparable duo and make an excellent comedic team. Lines are cleverly written by the writers and delivered with perfection- the timing of each joke is 100% accurate and enhances the jokes. Even small jokes, such as Josh getting scared by Drake by accident, turn into hilarious, side-splitting jokes.

While nearly everything is executed perfectly, there are still a couple of problems. The first one is the parents. The mother is nearly non-existent, as I almost never see her on the show, and is there mainly to get characters get along with each other, which never happens. The dad shows up a little more often, but unfortunately, he is a clueless airhead who is too unbelievable because of his stupidity. His stupidity is really not that funny, but luckily, he doesn't show up too much.

The one character, though, who I absolutely despise, is sister Megan Parker. She is the queen of all brats, and I can't stand her presence on the screen because she is so evil and mean and literally NEVER gets in trouble for the wrongs she's committed. She gets away with everything and loves every minute of it, and I get so steamed when I see her. This is such a downfall in the show, it decreases much of the show's credibility. Megan isn't as bad in some of the newer episodes, but I still don't like her character.

So far Drake & Josh has run pretty smoothly, getting better and better as it goes. The future of the show is questionable- I've heard rumors it has been canceled- but nothing is written in stone yet. I'm hoping the show continues to go instead of quitting while its ahead, because it is easily one of the best sitcoms developed in the 00's. 7.5/ 10.

Groundhog Day (1993)

One heck of a Groundhog Day

[8/10 · 30 August 2007]

Groundhog Day: the story of one man caught seemingly in a never-ending time warp that constantly repeats itself on February 2nd. While the premise of the film is very appealing and original as well as the bulk of the movie itself, I think it falls a bit short of landing a spot in the top 250.

The first 20 minutes or so details what we are going to be seeing for quite awhile in the movie. It develops a sarcastic man named Phil, played hilariously by Bill Murray. He's guy who pretty much hates everything, and he's covering Groundhog Day in Pux-a-something, in which everything is horrible. He is even stuck in this town because of a blizzard, so he's forced to return to his dreaded town, and eventually fall asleep.

Once Phil wakes up, he immediately notices the same song playing and two idiots attempting to make the weather report they made yesterday. Everything outside is the same, the same events begin happening, and his worst fears are realized when a lady confirms it is Groundhog Day. He lives throughout the day trying to solve this problem, and eventually, must stay in the town again (the blizzard once again has trapped him here).

The next day it happens again. And every time it happens, it creates more laughs. Fortunately, the director knew when to stop in order not to tire itself out, and the events would be altered based on Phil's reactions to everything.

It is once the formula is changed, sadly, where humor is not as consistent. While there is certainly a great deal of it and even a hilarious suicidal montage, the film has lost its steam and traveling at an average-comedy pace. Towards the end, the film transitions finally into more of a drama. Why? I'll get into that a bit later.

Over the course of the film we see Phil's personality making drastic and eventual changes. First he freaks out about Groundhog's Day, then becomes even more of a jerk by using the day to his advantage. But his daily wants and needs cause him to feel pain and misery for awhile, and he still sees no way out. It is only when a girl he likes offers him indirect advice that he begins an ascent in his perspective of life and a change in himself.

The transition begins when Phil becomes selfless, and even though it doesn't have the tone of a drama, Phil seems to be more serious about things. It's kind of sad, though, because all the humor was working well.

There's really not much more to say about Groundhog Day. It's a good film that should be viewed by everyone. It is most plausible in its comedic moments and still pretty good in its more serious moments; some of those moments are even rather touching, and those serious moments are worthy of commendation. In the end, I'd have to give this film a 7.6/10. It's good but loses steam after about 40 or so minutes with only one other quick train of top-notch humor.

Hulk (2003)

Too bland and dark

[6/10 · 11 August 2007]

I'll admit, I like dark movies. They're very interesting to watch, as long as their is an emotionally driven backdrop. Hulk doesn't have this.

It's pretty much 2 1/2 hours of anger, hate, fear, and freaky people who have no true feelings for anyone. Jennifer Connelly is the only emotional one, and she is so emotional it is very dark. The movie is really depressing; it barely even has daylight for Christ's sake! All the performances are bland and 1-dimensional, not giving human depth to really any character. My favorite character was Thunderbolt Ross because he borough more emotion than any other character, despite having a 2 1/2 dimensional character development.

Eric Bana is a good actor but he is probably the worst of them all; nobody is bad but his role is so strange and freaky it's scary. Nick Nolte as David Banner is pretty much the same way but he is the baddie, and deserves to be that way. He is a very fun villain to watch on the screen and deserved more than one action sequence. I especially loved his scene where he shows up in Betty Ross' house and talks to her.

The CGI and action sequences were impressive; dark, but all fun to watch. Each one was pieced together like beautifully disturving works of art, and is one of the things that kept the movie from getting boring.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend Hulk really for anyone unless you're into the dark, 1-dimensional and nonsensical action films. Not something I'd watch often. 5.8/10.

I, Robot (2004)

Thrilling sci-fi action film

[8/10 · 10 August 2007]

Will Smith, in his usual role as the good guy armed with a gun, is taking on a new type of monster for I, Robot: robots. A renowned scientist is dead and his death rests upon the conscience of Del Spooner (Will Smith), who is totally convinced a robot committed the act because of his prejudice against robots.

The robot he believe did it is Sonny, a robot that is more human than machine. We discover this in his second confrontation with Spooner where Spooner questions him. This scene, like the first one with Sonny and Del, are quite effective and both remain highlights throughout the film. Sonny is the best one in the film, providing emotion but remaining intimidating in his first scenes. And when that intimidation needs to be his removed, his voice actor does a fabulous job.

Bridget Monahayan is the character who works alongside him but clearly despises him. She has a great role and pulls it off well, so I'm surprised I've never seen her in another film. Thnakfully, the cliché of the two liking each other is non-existent. They work side by side, uncovering a great robot conspiracy and try to stop it as it unfolds in an exhilarating showdown.

The last 20 minutes are all action, and probably some of my favorite sci-fi action sequences. My favorite in the film, though, is when robots attack Spooner in a 10-star scene that will remain timeless in my collection of sci-fi films.

All the movies action sequences are memorable as well as the emotional side that fills the gaps between action sequences. Everything is pulled off well, although Will Smith is sadly a bit dry until he reveals why he is so biased against robots.

The mystery that unveils a conspiracy has its share of twists that, while not being complex, are certainly not clichéd and even a bit surprising. This makes the movie all the more better. I'm surprised the movie has only a 7.0, it's a fun film you will not soon forget. 7.8/10.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Pretty good

[7/10 · 10 August 2007]

Will Smith is one of my favorite actors. Not because I think he is one of the greatest, but every movie he's been in, I've enjoyed, and there's quite a lot of those films. This is the first film I've seen with him where it's not about action; it's all about the drama and reality of one man struggling to survive through a financially tough time.

In probably his best performance yet, Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a truly lovable but flawed man who is trying to get a job at an internship while not receiving any salary and simultaneously trying to keep his son safe. From a house to a motel to a bathroom, Smith evokes emotions I've never seen before, and it is very effective, especially in the scene where he sleeps in a bathroom and silently cries with his son on his lap.

The story is also nice; I wasn't absorbed by it but it entertained me throughout its duration. It moved at a steady pace and things constantly happened, holding my interest. What makes it sad is that it's a true story, so this gives it some credibility.

Other than that, I hate to say the movie is no more than average. The kid is a nice actor and all but does have an occasional bratty moment that made me want to jump inside the movie and slap the kid upside the head for being so naive. But then again, he is a child and certainly more simplistic than his father who knows the emotional dangers of his situation.

So the movie did keep me entertained and I will probably buy it unless I find something better. I liked it and you will too, but it's not something that makes me want to watch it over and over again. 6.9/10.

Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002)

Thank God it was good

[6/10 · 10 August 2007]

Aside from movies based upon the life of Jesus Christ, there hasn't been one good Christian film. Until now.

Left Behind II is based on the events right after Left Behind, throwing us deeper into the slowly changing ruled by mastermind Nicolae Carpathia, who is quick to gain power.

The performances are better in the film; its nothing special, sadly, but is not so cheesy. It has its clichés, but in the end, you've forgotten them. My favorite was Gordon Currie, who has so perfectly become the Antichrist in the book series that it'd be difficult to see another in the role (aside from maybe Cillian Murphy).

But when it comes to sticking to the book, the movie does sidetrack a bit. The love story is shortened significantly and the entire ending of the book is left out, but it sticks much closer to the book than the first.

Some of the newer scenes were awesome, my personal favorite being Carpathia shaking the hand of Rayford Steele. The scene is so creepy and thrilling, I'm glad they decided to add it in. The showdown is also nice, although I didn't like the whole angel subplot during it.

Overall, I am glad to say the movie is good. Certainly not great but it so much better than its predecessor or successor, and should've been released on the silver screen. 6.9/10.

Black Hawk Down (2001)

The most realistic war film of our time but not necessarily the best

[7/10 · 10 August 2007]

Black Hawk Down is one of those rare films where you don't any of the characters. You don't know where they're coming from, you don't know there names, but they're there. The only other film I know like this is United 93.

This is a problem for Black Hawk Down. While most likely being the most realistic and accurate war film of our time, not knowing who the characters are leaves you unflinched when someone important dies. There was only character where I felt only a hint of sadness for, and I didn't even know his name.

Another problem is action. Honestly, there is too much action in the film. It's non-stop, not giving any time to flesh out any characters. You actually wish for a moment of peace but any of these moments are probably 30 seconds in length. I like how all the action came together, but there was just too much for my taste.

On a positive note, all performances were believable. Even the Samalians, who were most likely no more than paid extras, were highly believable and you can feel a hatred growing for their monstrous behavior in the film. You can feel the savageness of their actions through gruesome images and the way they pursue the men of Black Hawk Down.

Like I said, the film was realistic, even more so than Saving Private Ryan. This gets it a lot of points, and is one of the main reasons I liked the film.

Overall, the film is entertaining but its hard to feel emotion for characters that die and none of them are fleshed out. Enjoyable, but not great. 7.1/10.

United 93 (2006)

Best 9/11 movie out there

[7/10 · 10 August 2007]

Its only dawn for movies about 9/11, the only full length feature film I know of being World Trade Center, which was terrible. That being said, that automatically makes this the best 9/11 movie so far- I even like it more than the documentaries that recover footage.

Opening on a tense and dark note, the movie wastes no time setting up everything. The terrorists board the plane, the other planes are hijacked, the WTC is hit, and the military is in a frenzy. While all this comes out good, the scenes on the plane are too slow-moving until the plane is finally hijacked in a dramatic and moving sequence.

After the hijacking, the passengers make phone calls to their loved ones, hear of the 9/11 plot, and decide to take action. Everyone on board is a hero, but a problem lies in not knowing who they are.

When people are calling their loved ones you feel for them but you're most likely not going to end up teary-eyed. The performances are touching but not having a story backdrop keeps it from moving you to tears.

The stand out performances of the film are the terrorists aboard United 93. They barely speak much and you can see the inner conflict in one of them simply by the expression of his face. The hijacking itself is very frightening and the terrorists are merciless.

While the film is strong, its a bit too slow-moving and therefore, can make it boring. And not knowing who anybody was makes it hard to evoke any emotion in one unless they lost a loved one that day. I live in NYC but did not, so after my first viewing I felt my attention going elsewhere. I recommend it for one viewing and one viewing only. 7.4/10.

Spider-Man (2002)

Good movie with scenes connected by flawed and boring links

[8/10 · 10 August 2007]

Since the 80's, I believe, Spider-Man has been trying over and over again to hit the silver screen. James Cameron got close, writing a script for the movie but the idea was thrown out. Spidey material sat silent in the dust for 8 years before Sam Raimi picked it up.

The first 45 minutes are near flawless. There were some forgettable scenes (GG attacking some air force base), and the whole wrestling scene was ridiculous, but it was all a build-up to the defining moment in Peter Parker's history; his Uncle Ben gets shot, and he seeks revenge immediately. And through this he learns the true meaning of "With great power comes great responsibility".

The second act begins right after he avenges his uncle's death. He soon becomes Spider-Man and begins to pursue the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane. Spider-Man has given him confidence, but things aren't so great for the hero for long. A new menace is on the scene, going by the moniker Green Goblin, and he has a fight- actually three- to pick with Spider-Man. His first fight is entertaining, his second a bore, and his third a cinematic marvel. He is played by the cunning Willem Dafoe, who gives a very credible role in this film.

All the performances of course, are good. Tobey Maguire does a great job as the heroic webslinger, doing justice for the emotional scenes and giving a sense of triumph in the red tights. James Franco is equally good, although he only has a couple of cameos as Peter's best friend. His final scene is promising. Kirsten Dunst does a good job as well as Rosemary Harris and Cliff Roberston. Every character is believable and fun to watch, whether it be on the silver screen or on your TV.

This movie is flawed though. While still managing greatly on the entertainment level, some of the bigger scenes can only be shown by introducing a new storyline, and it is usually done through a boring scene (Spidey's second fight with GG leads to something I don't want to say as to not spoil the film). There are plenty of scenes that are entirely forgettable, but each one leads to something more important, something bigger.

The main highlight, though, is the final battle at the end, composed of two major scenes. Both are spectacular (the Queensboro Bridge and GG vs. Spidey in the old warehouse) and do wonders for the film's presentation and credibility. And it is only followed by a great ending, leaving you wanting to watch it again.

Spider-Man is the promising opening of a good trilogy (would've said great if Spider-Man 3 wasn't part of that trilogy), and I give it a 7.2/10.

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Ruined what could've been a great trilogy

[6/10 · 10 August 2007]

It is very easy to bash a movie like Spider-Man 3. It has it cornball moments, its overflowing story lines, and a terrible montage sequence. Not all the villains work. Harry loses his memory and becomes the cornball of cornballs. Mary Jane fails to tell Peter about why she is truly depressed, making you want to slap her. The last fight sequence was a disappointment. Yet it is only upon reflection when you can say such things. This is my Spidey 3 review, take 4.

The first time I watched the movie, I was so absorbed, and it fulfilled everything I had hoped for (aside from the montage sequence). But as time passed by, I began to notice more and more things and it has finally sunk in; the movie is a reduced shell, the monster that needed to escape after the great success of Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.

Spider-Man is at the prime of his Spidey life; the city adores him and even has an Appreciation Day for him. But of course, happiness never lasts long in the life of young Peter Parker. His friend Harry attacks him, the case of the murder of Uncle Ben opens up once again, and MJ is having problems communicating with him. And once all these things begin taking their toll on him, a symbiote finishes it off by taking over him and he loses it.

The symbiote, sadly, is like watching a really bad parody of Jim Carrey in The Mask. He parades around the town trying to win over the ladies (which he never succeeds), and even begins dancing. I've seen the movie two times, and I cringed and turned away both times I saw that. It was devastatingly painful to see what Sam Raimi had done to Spider-Man. Thankfully, this didn't last too long, and right after, he removes the symbiote in probably the best Spidey scene yet.

Speaking of best scenes, Spider-Man 3 contains many. As the symbiote takes over him physically, you find yourself so absorbed that you feel like the symbiote is taking you over itself. It also has my favorite fight scene which is the second one between Harry and Peter. It is a very brutal and dark fight, perfectly exemplifying how the symbiote really should've been. But that retarded montage sequence follows right after it.

I also liked Kirsten Dunst's performance in the movie. In the past two films she had an occasional semi-corny moment, but that's gone. She has matured as an actress and does good in her role (too bad it was poorly written).

James Franco also did a nice job- when he was a baddie. When he loses his memory you do feel for him but yea, he's corny. As a baddie, the guy is a genius. Too bad it was only during the beginning and middle/end of the movie in which he was GG2.

Speaking of villains, I have to say that 2/3 villains worked. Tose villains were Sandman and GG2. Sandman was nearly as good as Doc Ock in Spidey 2, but he was really only there because Maguire and Raimi liked him. They had to include him being the killer of Uncle Ben just to try to give him some purpose in the film. Thomas Haden Church did a magnificent job in the role and his villain was a marvel to watch on the silver screen, but he was probably the least important villain in the film and should've been taken out. Like I already said, GG2 I thoroughly enjoyed.

But Venom. Tsk tsk, Raimi, tsk tsk. One reviewer said Venom was really just bait to draw in viewers and they could make more than they spent ($250 mil is a lot for a movie). The reviewer was probably right; I liked Eddie Brock and Venom was more powerful than Spidey but his one weakness kills him and his fight is poorly done. As a matter of fact, most of the battle between Spidey and Venom was Spider-Man falling down and Eddie Brock talking to Peter. Eddie Brock had enough screen time to be developed as a character, but was misused, making him the least effective of the villains.

Other small roles include Gwen Stacy and a quick scene with Willem Dafoe. Willem Dafoe is brilliant but the brilliance is shortlived since his scene ends as soon as it started. And Gwen Stacy probably had 2 or 3 scenes total, which was certainly not enough time to give her even 2-dimensional character development.

Action sequences and CGI were good as usual. Aside from Harry vs. Peter the second time, none of the action sequences lived up to the ones in the first two. I did like Venom's with MJ on the web but his fight afterwards was pathetic. And Sandman degraded the fight.

The love story was very tight, and was so sad. This probably worked best. But because the film had the longest running time they had to cut it off and end the movie leaving their relationship questionable. The movie ended with one of these scenes and I was very disappointed; the movie ended too soon.

This is a sad movie in the Spidey saga (since they now have confirmed three more Spider-Man films). While the movie certainly had its highlights, each one had at least one flaw and whatever wasn't a highlight was severely flawed, degrading the presentation of the film. The trailers were deceiving and the hype they built up around the movie was full of lies. We can only pray that Spider-Man 4 will be better and that Sam Raimi will have learned to follow in the footsteps of Spider-Man 2 rather than take the script into his own hands. 6.7/10.

By the way, Bruce Campbell's cameo is great!

World Trade Center (2006)

Disgraces the heroes of 9/11

[4/10 · 10 August 2007]

I used to live in NYC. Not Manhattan, but Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of NYC. Being only 8 years old, the events of 9/11 left me trying to come up with a movie (thank God I was only 8) about my experience of 9/11. I'm sure many Hollywood directors immediately came up with the idea of putting together a 9/11 to make a large profit. Oliver Stone was obviously one of those people, and he did it. But unfortunately, he didn't do it right.

The first 15 minutes, I'll let you know, are fantastic. They beautifully detail the men arriving at the WTC. One of the officers even sees a man falling out of the building. So they head in. And once they do, the movie falls apart like leaves.

The guys walk through the Twin Towers (yes, walk), making jokes as if nothing has happened. Blood is all around them yet they walk through as if they have no clear mission. Only when the towers collapse do they realize a building getting hit by a massive plane with so many dead is actually serious, but it's too late for them. The officers are crushed beneath the rubble.

Their families watch in horror as the buildings fall atop their loved ones. Of course, both families are annoying and one of them has a bratty, spoiled child yelling at his mother. He claims she doesn't care about her husband because she refuses to drive up to the wasteland of Ground Zero, search through many stories of rubble and find her husband. The kid makes me want to assassinate Oliver Stone for making that child say such rubbish.

For the longest time, two of the surviving officers, Nicholas Cage and a Hispanic guy that I've never heard of talk, giving inevitable character development. Nicholas' Cage performance is kind of a bore but he still has his moments. The other officer is excellent; he is the lone highlight of the movie.

Eventually, the corniest cornball of military cornballs decides to help search through the rubble, finally shedding light on the two buried officers. It is really painful watching this guy, it's like watching a Power Ranger in 9/11.

The only positive note after those first 15 minutes and the Hispanic officer is the lines "He's coughing up rocks", which shows that the movie at least has sense of realism. But all in all, these things can't save this awful portrayal of the events of 9/11.

4.7/10= You'd be better off without it

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The best war movie ever made

[10/10 · 10 August 2007]

Because I have younger siblings, most war films I have seen are the least realistic ones that are just fairly decent (Tears of the Sun, Behind Enemy Lines). Upon finally having my siblings out of the house, I was able to watch it. Let me tell you, I was blown away; the movie was incredible.

The first thirty minutes are all about D-Day, the bloodiest battle I have ever seen on screen. It was very realistic and accurate; the dead and the wounded were lying around everywhere, getting plowed down as the ships opened. Not too many survived. One of the survivors is one of my all-time favorite actors, Tom Hanks. He is affected by the battle severely, and he recruits men afterward to hunt down Private Ryan, whose other brothers have been killed in combat.

The next two hours show us the complete trek to finding Private Ryan and developing all the characters to their fullest. Every character has his own personality, and you learn so much about each and every character. Each one does a great job at showing what type of person they are. Along the way, they have to fight off some Nazis and two men are killed. This effects each and every soldier in Tom Hank's squadron, and the life of war is seen taking its toll on each man, emotionally and mentally breaking them and hurting them.

Every time a character has a meltdown, it is very powerful. The moments are calm and slow, but not soft on the heart. And yet they must press on through the washed-up world until they find Private Ryan and have a historic showdown in cinema history.

Heroes die. Men are wounded and left for dead. Only some survive. The final battle is merciless and although not as bloody as the D-Day Invasion in the beginning, its more difficult to watch because more men die and you know each and every one. What makes it even sadder is that it was all real.

Even my Grandpa, who was in several battles in the Korean War and held as a prisoner for two years in Korea, said the movie was fairly realistic. Steven Spielberg, cinematic genius of the 20th Century, is not afraid to show the blood and gore and hammer disturbingly devastating pain into the hearts of the viewer. And after the movie you find yourself silent, quietly honoring the heroes of WWII. That is what Saving Private Ryan did. 9.8/10.

Men in Black (1997)

One of the most entertaining sci-fi flicks around!

[8/10 · 10 August 2007]

Will Smith. Tommy Lee Jones. Two actors that can do pretty much anything. They are two agents working together to fight off the scum of the universe; today it's a giant cockroach hell-bent on finding a galaxy.

There screen chemistry together is magnificent; every joke works- even if you don't laugh you'll smile. There couldn't be a better match for alien exterminators.

Vincent D'Onfrio is so hilarious and creepy as the alien threatening the safety of Earth. His performance is really great.

It's serious moments are even more effective than its comedic ones because they are so well-written and there aren't too many of them. Ed Solomon knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote the script and couldn't have done a better job.

The plot itself is timed and explained really well. The two MIB agents are working together to solve a mystery surrounding the ferocious bug. It isn't very complicated but not so simplistic either.

Almost everything works in the film. But I do have to stress "almost". The attraction type thing going on between Will Smith and Linda what's-her-last-name is a bore, but is only brief. Plus, some scenes seem to be more filler than actual plot (Will Smith delivering a baby alien), but the movie still never loses steam. 7.9/10.

Independence Day (1996)

Great sci-fi movie

[8/10 · 9 August 2007]

Since it's release in theaters 11 years ago, Independence Day has taken a lot heat. While I personally disagree that this movie is so horrible, it is easy to beat up the film seeing that its directed by one of the most boring directors of our time, Roland Emmerich.

However, I believe this is his finest work. The first act is all about the build-up of the alien invasion and the attacks. This takes about fifty minutes, which also develops many (too many) characters and their places in the apocalypse.

The attacks are good, but it is not unexpected. The special effects give it its credibility, and the second act begins the day after.

In the wake of the devastation, mankind is limping on to survive, all main characters personally affected in someway by the attacks. While everybody does a good job bringing out the emotional side of the attacks, Will Smith is the only one that degrades this. After battling the aliens and failing, he has a close encounter with an alien and reacts unrealistically, punching it and sarcastically greeting it. Then he's dragging it through the desert, screaming at it because he is missing a barbecue. HELLO?!? This is an alien race far superior to our own and it has single handedly brought mankind to its knees, and all he can do is yell at it for ruining his day? His performance is plausible but not his role. Thank God this is the only thing that I did not like in the second act.

After Will Smith brings the alien to a secret alien research facility in Area 51, the doctors decide to perform an autopsy. The autopsy scene is a classic. It is probably the best sci-fi scene I have EVER seen. It could fit into a 50's classic, and makes the movie so great.

At the end of the second act, they finally figure out how to take down the alien's shields and destroy their monster-sized spacecraft. This is where the lousy third act begins.

July 4 is the opening of the third act, in which they round up as many pilots as possible. One is my least favorite character, a guy named Russell who claims he had been kidnapped by aliens 10 years earlier. The guy is lackadaisical cornball. He has one good line (Hello, boys. I'm back!!!!). All pilots around the world, including Russell will be in the ultimate battle. They will fight the alien ships while Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum plant a virus inside the mother ship. This is sadly the only interesting part of the third act, the rest of it from before being a cornball of clichés.

The interior of the mother ship is so breathtaking, I actually found myself wishing somehow their ship would malfunction and they'd be stuck inside, forcing them to venture through the space frigate for about an hour in a style reminiscent to "Alien". But seeing that the movie is already 2 1/2 hours, I guess they decided to not to.

Jeff Goldblum's and Will Smith's chemistry work wonders while they're in the mother ship, and every moment inside it is really good.

The movie shortly ends after their departure from the mother ship, so it pretty much comes to a screeching halt. The world is still in ruins, and Emmerich leaves us to ponder how humanity will get back up.

All in all, the movie manages perfectly for 81% of the movie. I would've given it a 9.0 if it weren't for Will Smith's comic relief in the second act, Russell, and mainly clichéd third act. 8.1/10.

Freedom Writers (2007)

Amazing movie

[8/10 · 9 August 2007]

Being a writer and hearing of a movie called "Freedom Writers", I was excited to see it. I finally got the chance two days ago, and let me tell you, the movie blew me away.

The beginning of the movie was really good; we are introduced to Eva, a girl living in a neighborhood run down by gangs and nearly daily shootings.

Hilary Swank, a woman who has just become a teacher, begins teaching a class (which has Eva in it) that obviously has no structure but is full of potential. Hilary Swank plays the teacher to perfection, and about thirty minutes into the movie, she begins to understand their situation. So she decides to use their situation as a teaching tool and gives them books on gangs and teaches them about the Holocaust. Change is seen growing within the students, but the odds are against the English teacher. Her husband is growing sick of her job, and one of the teachers is so fed up with her that she tries undoing everything Hilary Swank is.

All the performances are very convincing, so it is a very touching movie. As the students lose their embitterment you begin to feel for them and at the end it is hard to see them begging for their teacher to remain.

However, the movie isn't without its imperfections. The teacher that hates Hilary Swank is devastatingly obnoxious. The actress who plays her does a good job, but its just so annoying seeing her degrade Hilary Swank's reputation among the other teachers. The movie also has a constant barrage of rap/hip-hop songs, and you'll only enjoy it if you like that style of music (which I do not). Lastly, Hilary Swank has several corny lines in there in which she tries talking "ghetto" or "cool", and I cringed every time.

But in the end, those things don't matter. It's an important film everybody should watch for its messages and its "cool-ness". Overall, the movie deserves an 8.0/10.

The 'Burbs (1989)

One movie you can't help falling in love with

[8/10 · 31 July 2007]

The Burbs has become one of those films where every time I pop into the DVD player I just begin to smile, and right through to the end, I'm still smiling. The 'Burbs is just one of those films.

Set in a modern-day suburbia (although technically it wold be an 80's suburbia since it was made in the 80's), a man named Ray is taking a week from work to just enjoy the summer and his mind, relax. What he doesn't realize is that throughout the next week he's going to be living in a comedic hell.

Teamed up with his buddies Art and Rumsfield, the boys spend the week spying on the new neighbors, the Klopeck's, who have been inside for a month and have never come out. The three suspect them as murderers as they begin discovering more and more "clues" about the Klopeck's, until Ray is finally pushed over the edge and they decide to clean out the Klopeck's once and for all.

Full of wit, humor, and genuinely creepy thrills that will send shivers up your spine, The 'Burbs creates its own unique mix and in the end, is able to pull off the perfect balance of its scary moments and humorous ones. Some of the jokes do misfire but the script is loaded with them, so you'll be laughing at least every 2 minutes. Each character does great in their role (espcially Tom Hanks), although Rick Duco...something does nothing more than average job in his hilarious role.

The showdown at the end is excellent, the truth behind the veil of the Klopeck's mysteries is lifted and is probably the best scene in the whole film (although the the scene where they visit the Klopecks is a close second), and in the end you are just...smiling.

So while The 'Burbs is nowhere near perfect (some of the scary moments are far too scary, the story is usually at a standstill and a handful of the jokes can misfire), the 'Burbs is a wonderful film that you will want to watch over and over just as I have. And you will never get tired of it. 7.9/10.

Transformers (2007)

2 1/2 hours of Power Rangers

[5/10 · 9 July 2007]

You have to admit there is some truth in the title of my review. TRANSFORMERS was definitely one of the films I looked forward to seeing during the summer. The trailers looked awesome, and I couldn't wait to see the movie. I walked out with mixed feelings, although the feeling of disappointment outweighed my more positive feelings. But time has passed, and I'm slowly appreciating the movie a bit more.

The first fifteen minutes are very promising, providing humor and great character development. Shia LaBeouf is in the lead role, and he is fantastic! His character has a great, lovable personality you just can't resist. The scene where he buys the car, however, left me with a strange feeling because it was so fast-paced and different.

Next, we're trekking through the desert with a unit of soldiers when they are greeted by a transformer. These action sequences are spectacular. However, they serve almost no relevance to the overall plot of the movie, which by the way, is a very interesting plot.

While being your average "unqualified person must stop beasts from taking over universe and get girl" plot, it has its own unique way of presenting itself, providing great action sequences and awesome special effects. While the plot is obviously unrealistic (because it's a sci-fi film), it comes with some unrealistic moments, such as a 5 foot Transformer making its way through a sea of people without getting noticed.

This is one of several problems with the film: not being realistic. People's reactions to the Transformers are not the way a normal human would react. The humor is just plain awful (Sam's Happy Time was just outright nasty), and the movie seems to take itself seriously during some scenes and then strips away its dignity in others. These problems are what make the movie strange and sometimes hard to watch.

This goes for about an hour, right up until Sector Seven enters. The rest of the movie after the introduction of S7 is fine. Most of it is action, and of course the action is some of the most entertaining in movie history.

One other problem I could actually feel was the film trying to be dramatic. Car chase scenes were spoiled for me because of random guitar riffs beginning to crunch, slow motion effects were painful to watch, and Optimus Prime talked as if he just came from the recent Star Wars films. However, his voice was done to perfection.

I would also like to tip my hat to the others who did the voices of the Transformers; although some of the lines were painful to hear simply because of how strange they were ("this looks like a good place to kick it!"), all the voices were magnificent.

Transformers had the potential to be a great film, but it only turned out OK. Right now it's at an 8.2, but that will probably drop as more people view it. There is some truth about the title of my review; whenever it doesn't take itself seriously it feels like Power Rangers. That's the main problem; the film doesn't seem to know whether it wants to be serious or not, and that makes it a bit difficult to watch, because you want to take it seriously, but you just can't at certain moments. Overall, I give this movie a 5.5- an OK film with some positive notes and some negative ones.

Batman Begins (2005)

The story behind the Caped Crusader's mask

[9/10 · 27 June 2007]

We all know what happened to the original Batman franchise; what started out as a rather promising trilogy ended as being nothing more than a campy final two movies.

Christopher Nolan, one of the best directors of the 21st Century, has risen to the challenge of creating a new Batman franchise. His first task? Reveal the true story of Batman's mysterious past and deliver it in the most magnificent way possible.

The movie begins with Bruce Wayne in a place in life you've never seen before. He is in a prison in Nepal (?), for committing crime. He is soon approached by a man named Henri Ducard, a man who is looking to give Bruce Wayne a chance to clean up the hell he has put himself in and turn him into a man of justice. Bruce Wayne, who has hit rock bottom, has decided to start making his way back upward and fulfill his goals and needs. This is the opening story of the movie.

The first thirty minutes transcends between Bruce's time with the League of Shadows (a comic book origin not even hinted at in previous Batman films) and the path he has taken in life, leading up to where he is right now. Through these recollections, we discover why Bruce Wayne is terrified of bats, his drives, wishes, and most importantly we get a 3-dimensional look at the type of person he is.

The next thirty minutes is fast-paced, showing his return to Gotham city. Although corrupt, The League of Shadows has taught him how to fight injustice. He quickly acquires a disguise, a symbol, and his first mission is to put Carmine Falcone behind bars. This is where Batman finally comes in. He thwarts a drug shipment, and Falcone is finally handcuffed, waiting for his trial.

What Batman doesn't realize is that this move has played right into the hands of insane asylum-owner Dr. Jonathan Crane, played to perfection by the creepy Cillian Murphy. He takes over the empire Falcone once owned and seemingly has his own plans. Soon, a microwave transmitter is stolen, and Batman slowly begins to unravel the connection between Jonathan Crane (aka "The Scarecrow"), the shipment of drugs, and the stolen microwave transmitter.

The plot planned by the Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul is easily the most sinister of any Batman film, driven by motivations that were missing from previous Caped Crusader films.

That's not the only thing about this Batman film that I liked better than other interpretations of Batman's story lines. Bruce Wayne's history is outlined and detailed with a brilliant passion, and only enhanced by Christian Bale's performance. His character has excellent chemistry with Henri Ducard, who is played by the outstanding Liam Neeson. His bout with Batman at the end is exhilarating, and it makes the best fight scene in any Batman film. His confrontations with the Scarecrow are even better- although there are only two, his first is the most memorable, being one of the coolest scenes I have ever seen(not greatest, COOLEST). Cillian Murphy never shows any vulnerability as The Scarecrow, although he is ultimately "defeated" (or is he?).

Not to say BB was perfect. I didn't like some of the little things (like a homeless man approaching the Batmobile and saying "Nice ride"), some of the scenes didn't seem to enhance the film (Do I look like a cop?), and the love story was a one-way road. While Christian Bale actually showed that he liked Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), Katie Holmes didn't seem to react, making the love story seem a bit off when all of a sudden Rachel Dawes kisses him at the end of the movie. However, Katie Holmes was a great DA and the chemistry between her and Cillian Murhpy in there scenes together worked like a charm.

So even though Batman Begins is not without its flaws, it more than manages to entertain the average moviegoer, answers the questions of a lot of people as to Bruce Wayne, offers a little something for everyone, and leaves the viewer satisfied. 9.5/10= Amazing movie!