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Reviews
6 Underground (2019)
Baaaaad. Just bad.
What an awful mess. Cheesy, dumb dialogue, choppy editing. Horribly predictable attempts at being interesting, sentimental, humorous, edgy.
This felt like the result of an uncool aging filmmaker trying desperately to be cool and relevant and failing miserably. Too many stupid scenes to mention... too much stupid dialogue to point out in a single review.
One Star was for the occasional humorous line by Ryan Reynolds. The other star was for the eyeball scene at the very beginning of the movie, which was actually funny.
The film warrants no more stars, and I'm being generous by not considering deductions for the many flaws, which would have the final rating at negative -3,782 stars.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Pleasantly Surprised
Even amidst concerns of political agendas and apprehensions about Emma Watson's Belle, the magic of Disney's Beauty and the Beast prevails in this truly enchanting fairy tale of fairy tales.
Were there bits and pieces that didn't quite feel right? Of course there were. The animated feature film on which this is based has been my most favorite animated film since its release in 1991. But, overall, the essence remained, and the storybook experience was even enhanced with lustrous visuals and the addition of three beautiful songs that I can't wait to download. "Days in the Sun" = so lovely :)
As for Belle, I was a little disappointed with how she opened the film in what had become the best musical opener of any animated film to date. The Belle we instantly loved in the original Disney version was vibrant and, although peculiar, she was comfortable in her own skin, despite the whispers and stares in town. Emma Watson's version seemed gloomy and overly self-conscious. But as the film progressed, I grew to appreciate this Belle, and, yes, I embraced her in the story.
One last thing... be ready for it: the Be Our Guest number is so spectacular, you might wonder why you're the only one in the theater applauding in a standing ovation at the end of it. Just sayin' ;)
The Last Airbender (2010)
Extremely Entertaining!
As someone who just wanted to see this film purely from the captivating trailers, I was definitely not disappointed. No, I've never seen the series, so my review is purely one of THE FILM as just that - a film. And I, my husband, and my sister (we are all adults,) LOVED it.
The cinematography was truly stunning - the CGI water effects were magnificent! The fight scenes were also very well choreographed (especially the one with Aang and the "Blue Spirit,") and the Tai Chi based forms were gracefully fluid. The boy's technique was spot on!
The action was very well done without going over the top, and the dramatic aspects stemming from the various relationships is extremely intriguing. The relationships: between the father/son, the uncle/nephew, and especially the one between Aang and Prince Zuko - they are all wonderfully illustrated and executed, creating the right amount of tension, give, and conflict.
We were so pleased with this film's ending and are happily waiting for the sequel! For those of you out there, like us, who do NOT watch this cartoon series (the adult population out there) GO SEE THIS FILM. You will be taken away from your everyday life into a time and place beyond your wildest dreams, and you WILL be entertained.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
One of the Funniest Movies of 2009
Silly. Just silly.
Most of the film was just BORING. We were literally yawning while waiting for something to happen, and when something DID happen, the "paranormal activity" was silly, like the pranks my brothers played on me when we were kids. Perhaps the film would have been more interesting had the two actors been the least bit captivating, but alas, my husband and I found ourselves rooting for the ghost.
For those who question how we watched the film, we rented the DVD and were home, alone, watching it in darkness but for the light from the fireplace. We even watched it with our cinematic surround sound, which DID actually enhance the experience as the deep vibrations signifying the "presence" were felt in our living room, but that was the extent of the film's effectiveness.
We couldn't wait for the movie to end, and if I could get my $1.08 back from RedBox, I'd use it to rent something more entertaining than 86 minutes of what seemed like some stranger's failed attempt at making a "scary" home movie.
Ninja Assassin (2009)
Adrenaline-spiked action, gorgeous fight choreography, and a real storyline...this one has it all!
Finally, a modern film that delivers all that was promised. The Wachowski brothers sought to create a film that captured the essence of classic martial arts flicks, smoothing out the rough edges (leaving out the off-timed English dubbing) and bringing it into a modern genre. I didn't know what to expect from those Matrix geniuses, but I'd hoped for a lot...and Ninja Assassins definitely exceeded my expectations.
It's a lightning-paced ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, enveloped in the dark shadows, savoring the thrill of the Ninja's evasive and chic mystery as their story unfolds. The characters are appropriately animated in their seediness or understated heroism, respectively. They paint a beautifully intricate personal story that richly enhances this "action film," taking it to a higher, noteworthy level.
All that we know and didn't know about Ninjas is illustrated in epic form while the true-to-classic fight scenes are strong, athletic, and artistic with steely precision. It's a powerful balance of weight and swiftness, history and sport. Add to that mix cinematography that holds the audience in uncertain darkness, amidst the telling whispers and tricky shadows, and the audience longs for a capable hero...and gets one.
Hopefully the industry will take note that a film can be both a great "guy movie" and achieve mainstream success by dropping the juvenile sex and nudity that only cheapens the overall work, denting the integrity of brilliance as in The 300 and Watchmen, whose single pathetic flaws of silly gratuitous sex marred their potential for broader longevity.
Bravo to these filmmakers for delivering a film that is both entertaining, satisfying, and an instant classic worthy of the top shelf in any Blue Ray collection, along with other innovative works that, with their signature glimmers of fresh perspective, changed film-making forever.
Watchmen (2009)
Almost Perfect, One Big Silly Flaw
This filmmaker seems to have made the same grave error in judgment that he did with The 300.
As others have stated, so eloquently, this screenplay is filmed beautifully, with rich depth and darkness that captivates the viewer from the opening scene. It could have reached heights of classic and epic proportions...but it had to include that silly gratuitous sex scene. Seriously? Like The 300, Watchmen could have maintained its integrity WITHOUT that 3 minutes of laughable nonsense. It did NOT need a sex scene at all, especially one so blatantly cheesy. This kind of immature approach will keep his films out of the Oscars and archives as true classics.
What a shame to have an otherwise stunning piece of work bruised and therefore ruined by such an amateur misjudgment.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight Delivers
The Dark Knight maintained the intensity and overall gunmetal grayish feel that sets this Batman apart. The film takes us to a Gotham City that has grown accustomed to the big bat's crime-fighting crusades, and the last remaining big time criminals have actually grown fearful of his wrath. They form an alliance to attempt to keep their illicit business activities alive but are feeling even more pressure from yet a different angle: the passionate and fearless new district attorney, Harvey Dent. Recognizing the crime group's looming extinction, a stranger enters their circle and offers what he thinks is the only solution: kill Batman.
The bad guys don't know if they can trust this seemingly demented madman, and they later learn the hard way that they don't really have a choice, for the most disturbing part of the Joker's personality is his motive. He doesn't care about money or power. He just enjoys causing trouble and watching, with pleasure, from the sidelines, as the terrorized city scrambles in mayhem...which leads me to the real star of this film, Heath Ledger.
Ledger's performance as the Joker is astounding and consuming. We come face-to-face with a villain bearing the coldness of a psychopath and a personality that remains as mysterious and inexplicable as the real reason for the scars on his face. He develops the air of the lone offender quite early on as he nonchalantly kills those who help him commit his crimes. Yet, he has no problem building an army of followers, and the viewers easily find that believable. As insane as he is, he's focused and quite determined. Ledger also brings the Joker's humor to the role, but he does it in a way that is unique to this interpretation...with subtlety and honesty. The very words and mannerisms that made me laugh also evoked feelings of sadness in its clarity. The evil is incredibly convincing.
Although Batman is a character that is often marketed towards kids, this film is definitely not appropriate for young children. In addition to the dark images, the violence, both seen and implied, is sometimes unsettling, and Ledger's Joker is chilling even for adult viewers. Having said that, this is, by far, one of the best films I've ever seen, and it will easily find a place in my personal top ten. I am only disappointed that this Joker, the best villain in a film since Hannibal Lecter, will never be revealed to us again.