Sometimes you take a look at a movie's director and leading actor and assume it is going to be a good movie and you are completely burned. Well, this was certainly one of them. DePalma directing and Cage starring, wow, this movie can't possibly go wrong can it? Ummmm, the answer is YES! It was pathetic. The worst part about it was the boxing scenes. Stan Shaw, the actor that the plays the boxer Lincolb Tyler was horribly miscast. This guy was like 50 years old and it showed in his physique and face. I know there are some boxers that look that way but none are that old and 99.9% of them don't ever make it to a big fight like the one Tyler was supposed to be in. The other boxer wasn't much better. They went way overboard with the trash talking during the fight. Real boxers may talk trash but not at that level and not with their hands down. The first time they do it with their hands down they would get drilled in the face. The boxer actually turned his back and raised his hands to the crowd while Tyler was still on his feet. That would never happen. It was painful to watch that entire scene. After that scene, the whole movie was viewed in a different way the rest of the movie. On a lighter note, but still disturbing, I was sick of looking at Nicolas Cage's protruding and unwieldy mane of chest hair!
Reviews
12 Reviews
Date Movie
(2006)
Pathetic Period
14 October 2006
I actually thought this might have been mildly funny and took a chance and rented it. What a waste. I thought "Not another Teen Movie" was funny in its own way and hoped this might be close to that. It could not have been further from it. It might have had 2 or 3 funny parts where I actually giggled or smirked but no out loud laughs like I thought. Why did the male love interest have an English accent? No mention as to where he was born, but if I remember correctly someone else from his family was in the movie and had no accent. I don't remember with 100% certainty because I wasn't paying attention closely because the movie absolutely sucked. The whole "pimp my ride" tie in to her makeover was a lame ass attempt to be creative and funny. Alls this movie did was make me realize that Allison Henigan is actually not bad looking when she is all "dummied up". I used to just visualize her as the band geek from American Pie. The sad thing is that the Director, producer, and everyone else must have thought "this is really funny, we've got a hilarious movie here".
The Departed
(2006)
Definitely worth the $8.50
12 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Although I hate actors that speak their mind publicly about politics and other things in which they have no expertise. Normally I wouldn't see a movie where Alec Baldwin or especially Martin Sheen were involved, however, since Scorsese directs masterpieces (more often than not), I paid to see this movie. I wasn't disappointed in the least bit for the most part. DiCaprio may finally get an Oscar win for this one. Matt Damon was spectacular as well. Jack Nicholson was in rare form in this one. Things that maybe weren't meant to be funny were to me. He was a riot. I actually thought Walhberg did a good job as well where I wasn't a huge fan of his acting ability beforehand (except in Boogie Nights). I probably would have voted this movie a "10" if the ending wasn't disappointing. I felt shocked when DiCaprio's character got blown away at the end. I am sentimental I guess, I liked his character and thought he put more on the line to stop crime and bring down a madman than 99.9% of us would do. I think it may have been a better ending if Wahlberg's character showed up at the elevator to blow Matt Damon and the other guy away and save Costigan (DiCaprio). Having said that, I realize that the ending was a wakeup call to illustrate that not all great cops have a happy ending. I think the movie is a sure fire Oscar nominee for best picture, as well as Scorsese for Director, DiCaprio for best actor (or supporting actor if they decide he wasn't the mian guy), and possibly Matt Damon as best actor/ supporting actor.
United 93
(2006)
The most nervous I have been during any movie I have ever seen.
30 April 2006
I'm not a great writer so this isn't going to be one of the more elegant movie reviews you have ever read but after seeing the movie I had to comment on it. Unless you've been in a coma the last 5 years you already know about 9-11 and what happened but that did not deter from the story that was told. The precise documentary style and factual approach was excellent. I was so nervous during the whole movie. On the edge of my seat, heart pounding, picturing myself in their situation. I thought the guy who played himself, the head of the FAA, was awesome. I didn't know until afterward that he wasn't an actor. He was great, I actually thought he had an Oscar worthy performance. I have never had such a feeling during or after a movie as I had with this one. After watching it, I was like "wow, those people were so brave, such heroes." Later that night, on Larry King Live, they had 4 family members of the victims on and they wholeheartedly agreed with the facts of the movie and gave kudos to the actors that played their fallen loved ones. They also said that 10% of the opening week gross is going toward a memorial in Pensylvania where the plane went down. I am so glad that they approved of the movie, it was pretty graphic and I was wondering if they would be upset about that. I am going to see this at least one more time this week and I hope that this movie wins an Academy award for best picture and best director at the minimum. Every American should see this movie movie at one point or another, it was simply amazing.
Team America: World Police
(2004)
Glad to see that I'm not the only one that hates actors nosing in politics.
12 March 2006
I personally boycott many movies due to certain actors appearing in them. I don't care if they are liberal or not, how they vote is their business. I do however, hate it when they make their views abundantly clear. Support at a rally is fine if they are passionate but when the situation doesn't call for it, I can't stand it. At the Acedemy awards for instance. Any actor who has enough gall to voice their opinion on that grand stage should be banned from appearing again. It is embarrassing. They actually think that the public is so shallow or that we can't think for ourselves so they have to convince us how to vote. As if I were undecided and Susan Sarandon said to vote Democrat, I would jump at it. Thats a joke. The sad thing is that people like Ben Affleck were exposed that they were indeed not even registered to vote. I think this movie was an excellent slap in the Hollywood liberal face and that they had it coming for a very long time. I would respect any actor that was asked a political question if they said "why are you asking me? I'm an actor not a political analyst." Or if they said "It doesn't matter what I think, let the people decide for themselves." I know for a fact that I am not the only one who feels this way. These actors are only hurting themselves. No one will go see a movie they are in just because they are Democrat or Republican, but they sure as hell risk a lot of us not seeing one of their movies because they are. I think it took guts for those guys to poke fun at the overwhelming majority of Hollywood. Just for clarification, I am not a bible pounding Republican. Just a guy who gets mad when celebrities speak their mind on things they are clearly not qualified to do.
Entourage
(2004–2011)
The best show on TV, cable anyway.
7 July 2005
This show is absolutely hilarious. The thing that makes the dialogue so great is that it is what a lot of people in the early 20's use. Whomever writes the screenplay for this show ought to win an award. So many movies and TV shows lack what I call "everyday people language". Too many TV shows and Movies have stupid one liners and overall dialogue that just isn't what "real" people say. Its refreshing to watch a show that nails it perfectly. I would pay to see an "Entourage" movie easily. Jermey Piven as "Ari" is incredible. He is exactly what I picture a Hollywood agent to be. He deserves some sort of award for his role. The only thing I hate about the whole show is that it is only a half an hour long and only on once a week. I hope this show goes on for years. The Billy Walsh character is interesting with all of his quirks and superstitions.
Their "hang time" would make Michael Jordan jealous!
30 April 2005
Can someone please tell me how in the hell can these chicks defy gravity like they were superheroes? I can understand in "The Matrix", there was a reason they could hang in the air. I could also use my imagination if the movie was based on a comic book and they supposedly had "super powers" but come on! The most athletic chick in the world couldn't do the things they do. I feel embarrassed to be apart of a society where so many people went to see this movie that it actually made over 100 million. Thats sick. That sums up a sad mentality that a lot of people in our society have. I wish filmmakers would stop with the highwire computerized stunts already. They are an insult to our intelligence.
Gangs of New York
(2002)
Daniel Day-Lewis is incredible as Bill "The Butcher"
10 April 2004
If Daniel Day-Lewis isn't the best actor alive, then he is definately in the top 3. His performance as Bill "The Butcher" was excellent. His accent was very believable and his presence was utterly chilling. I can't think of one actor who could have played that role better. It's ashame that he doesn't work that much anymore. Its an even worse shame that he did not win the Academy Award for that role. Leonardo Dicaprio's performance was pretty good but nothing to write home about. John C. Riley's short role was a very good one. He has proved why he is one of the most sought after charachter actors today. The movie was pretty good overall, the acting was excellent for the most part. I'd have to give it a solid "8" out of "10".
Anaconda
(1997)
Absolutely horrible movie!
10 April 2004
The anaconda was so fake looking that it made the whole movie not worth watching. The people who made this movie must think that the audience is clueless. No snake of that size can move that quickly. Sure it has a quick strike but not overall speed in a chase. The snake can not reach twenty or so feet in the air without being able to climb something. The waterfall scene had the snake snatch that guy from over twenty feet up without slithering up something to get him. Simply impossible. Also the sounds were so stupid. They practically had this thing growling like a lion. The computer generated snake looked like just that, a computer generated snake! Jon Voight did an OK job, but the rest of the cast stunk. Ice Cube was horrible, J-Lo sucked, and the one guy (besides Voight) who can actually act was incoherent and practically comotose the better part of the movie (Eric Stoltz).
Charlie's Angels
(2000)
Absolutely horrible!
4 November 2002
How in the heck can the audience expect to believe that anyone, man or woman, could possibly garner the hang time these girls get on their kicks and jumps. Michael Jordan in his heyday should have been so fortunate! At least in the Matrix, the charachters had an explanation for how they could hang in the air. To me, this makes the movie a ridiculous joke. I'm not anal, I know there are certain things we as an audience are supposed to overlook as being impossible but this was just too much! It looked totally stupid! That goes for Jet Li and his antics in Romeo Must Die also. There has been way too much computer trickery and editing in fight scenes nowadays and I am not the only one who thinks this. A lot of people are sick of these "fake" and unrealistic fight scenes. Also, if I see one more movie where there's an explosion and an actor or actors are walking away from it with their backs turned and they don't even flinch, I am going to be sick. It has been played before and it sucked then!!!!!!! (Desperado, Vampires, etc.)
The Newton Boys
(1998)
The worst movie I ever paid money to see at the cinema!
4 November 2002
Pitiful! I walked out of this movie and chastised my roommate for having dragged me to it! The thirty minutes that I saw showed no acting whatsoever. All it showed was a bunch of young actors that look good to chicks acting like a bunch of country hicks a "whoopin' and a hollerin'".
True Romance
(1993)
An incredible movie filled with top notch cameos of today's hottest actors.
28 October 2002
True Romance is my favorite movie of all time. The story is compelling. The acting is exquisite. The dialogue is what takes it to another level. The movie is funny in a weird way because of the dialogue. Gary Oldman should have been nominated for best supporting actor if his role had been a little bit bigger. Then again, you could say that about Christopher Walken's performance also. The scene between Walken and Dennis Hopper was absolutely awesome! Gary Oldman amazes me in every role he portrays. An English actor that is able to "nail" that "wannabe" accent that Drexl has is just incredible. It is a very violent movie but it was violent for the sake of being violent. It was necessary to understand the charachters and their definition of "True Romance". James Gandolfini shows his brilliance in portraying a mobster strongman which no doubt lead to his casting in The Sopranos. Tom Sizemore and Chris Penn add interesting dialogue that I particularly found funny. Even Bronson Pinchot had a good part in this flick. Saul Rubinek was excellent in portraying fat cat movie producer Lee Donowitz. The Bottom line: Great short performances out of Oldman, Walken, Hopper, Rubinek,Gandolfini and solid short performances out of Michael Rappaport, Tom Sizemore, Chris Penn,Bronson Pinchot, Val Kilmer and Brad Pitt. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette provide their best performances as the two main charachters who define "True Romance" a little differently than the rest of us. I think the title of the movie threw off mainstream America and mislead them to believe it was a "romance" in the traditional sense.
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