aeriz Reviews

Mean Girls (2004)

Not just for girls

[7/10 · 8 May 2004]

Mean Girls is a very comedic portrayal of High School life which everybody can find something to relate with whether they're nerds, jocks, female or male. Lindsay Lohan is the bomb and I can't wait to see how she will do in a more dramatic role if she ever takes one. I've been a fan of Tina Fey on SNL and this was a good start into writing for cinema. There were ups, downs, comedy and drama rolled nicely together and presented in a nice un-uberly predictable way. This is the best SNL'ish type movie i've seen and suggest everybody sees it if your into high school comedy... or just like watching a lovely cast of women perform on the big screen.

Matchstick Men (2003)

A drama with conartists rather than conartists with drama.

[7/10 · 22 September 2003]

An enjoyable movie, Nicolas Cage is a hilarious and dramatic actor in this film. Alison Lohman is a cutie whose career will grow if she continues to take on parts such as these. Matchstick Men is fun to watch if looking for a dramatic light hearted film. But if your looking for a conartists film with twists and turns like The Heist, this is not for you. The development of character relationships is priority rather than the actual cons. Take people who enjoy movies for movies... not for the violence and special effects.

Underworld (2003)

Vampire drama over vampire action

[7/10 · 22 September 2003]

Take typical vampires as aristocrats and make their enemy a very neglected movie monster, the werewolves, set them in modern time and that is underworld. A good movie for those who like the dark atmosphere of films like blade and matrix. At first, I thought the trailer gave too much of the film away in terms of discovering the plot. After seeing it, I was wrong. Underworld has a deep storyline if one pays attention to historical information presented by the characters and leaves a lot of possibilities for graphic novels and decent off shoot movies or sequels. If you ignore the plot and just watch the action, Underworld doesn't rise above in that area but it doesn't fall off the ladder. For vampires vs. werewolves, the powers each are known to have and have in the film aren't used often. The war could very well be between two races of human beings and the same footage could be used.

Hulk (2003)

Better than expected.

[6/10 · 20 June 2003]

I had my doubts about hulk being transferred to the big screen. Thought that he was too cartoonish to be a believable realistic character. X-men for example was a comic book movie too but you could buy what was going since it tried to be realistic. After watching the hulk though, he was still cartoonish but I accepted the fact that he could exist in that world. The problem I have with the film is the excessive use of fancy transitional effects. There was an abundant use of multiple onscreen frames likely used to simulate comic book pages but that eventually began to hurt my eyes and became a distraction since you couldn't focus on a single frame without ignoring the others. Hulk is a decent movie but it suffers by being way too much like a comic book which in the past, of early comic book films (fantastic four), brought the genre down.

Secretary (2002)

sensually entertaining

[8/10 · 15 June 2003]

An intriguing romp through the growth of a woman as she tries to find her right place in the world, Secretary crosses genre boundaries with two excellent performances making it dramatic, comedic and erotic. James Spader makes a great image of a masochistic lawyer who knows the line between fantasy and the world of reality. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a wonderful actress with a quality that allows her to be accepted as both a closed off lonely depressed girl and as a strong desirable sexual object. Even though the majority of secretary's eroticism is innuendo, wouldn't suggest that children see this film UNLESS they're into seeing great aspects of storytelling and film making. Course, everyone should see it eventually...

The Cat's Meow (2001)

not everyone will charleston

[7/10 · 15 June 2003]

First off, I was attracted to Cat's Meow since it was a Kirsten Dunst film and the poster design is one of the most attractive I've seen. Didn't know what to expect until I read the back of the box at the rental store. With that said, Cat's Meow is a good film in representing the feel of the twenties, especially in respects to the Hollywood film industry. The costume designs were top notch and I personally liked the outfits worn by the women. course, men typically wear suits and only so much can be done with those. Good choice by Bogdanovich in his use of b/w and color to create time. They really added to the whole 1920's feel the film went for.

But the film isn't perfect. To me, it's slow in some parts and some issues just seem to get drawn out to a point where you just don't care anymore if they're resolved. I personally won't be listening or doing the charleston anytime soon but it did function well in establishing the free spirited mood of the characters when it was necessary. see the Cat's Meow if you happen to be interested in dunst, Hollywood history, or the twenties. if not, you may walk away from it.

Down with Love (2003)

Cheezy, silly, unrealistic... what I expect from 60's films!

[9 June 2003]

hilarious and full of innuendo. Down with love is a romantic comedy that recreates the feel of old 60's films right down to the obvious green screen backdrops and unnatural situations. You have to know what your getting into when you see this film. if not, you may not accept the colorful world and odd narrative that makes the movie. There is a limit though to how silly and strange a narrative should get even from the 60's. Down to love crosses this limit at one point with is my only real problem with the film. See it for a laugh or if you just want something different.

X2 (2003)

Exciting and well done

[6 June 2003]

Having doubts toward any comic book movie that comes out, Bryan singer takes x-men and makes it into a realistic journey making the film series able to stand on its own. Better than the first, X2 is more dramatic and narrative driven. Yet I like the first 'cause it was able to stand alone and not rely on seeing the entire series (including the next film) to completely understand the narrative. Not that the story is complicated, but once you see the film, you'll understand my opinion.

Amélie (2001)

a magical journey into happiness...

[6 June 2003]

a fell good movie. Amelie is a trip into a childhood imagination and an adult perspective toward the world. The simple hints and background characters of her imagination set in a reality of France makes the film for both adults and children without going into just one path alienating one from the other. Ignoring the fact that it's in french and subtitled, I consider this a good family film and a film for anyone interested in foreign cinema.

America's Next Top Model (2003–2018)

UPN's salvation...

[3 June 2003]

Pack your bags UPN! you may get out of last place in ratings with this new reality tv show of yours. Showing the real difficulty behind modeling is an educating, not to mention sweet eye candy, experience. Having only seen a few episodes and listening to the general buzz about the show, Top model is definitely succeeding in drawing an audience. Then again, reality tv is not for everybody and if that is the case, this isn't your cup of tea. Feminist's may have problems with it due to its promotion of an ideal image of women. Luckily, by having a female host, Tyra banks, and many of the nit picking judges and fashion designers depicted with a strong focus on their respective areas of expertise rather than simply the models measurements, most feminist issues are diverted away. Watch the show, it will get you hooked and GO Elyse Sewell!! my choice for America's next top model.

Spirited Away (2001)

Very imaginative

[8/10 · 3 June 2003]

To design and think of all the characters in this film is sheerly masterfull. Each spirit has a unique aspect reflecting what they are and how they are different from those around them. Even the bath house workers, who are more or less one of two races of spirits, have qualities that make them individual from their peers. This is one of Hayao's greatest creations and a must see even for non-anime lovers.

American Psycho (2000)

Psychoticly hilarious!

[8/10 · 3 June 2003]

One of the best films I've seen over the last few years. Although it's a horror film about a serial killer, I found it more funny than scary. The one liners nobody seems to understand are so bizarre and out of the blue that you can't help but laugh. Bale just acts so... well, psychotic when he kills that he looks like a visual comedian. Full of multiple meanings and disturbing to some viewers, American Psycho is a must see film for whatever opinion you may form afterward toward it.

Resident Evil (2002)

For fans, by fans!

[7/10 · 2 June 2003]

A fresh revival to the horror genre. Intelligent, modern telling of the classic zombie monster. A great adaptation of a great game. Memorable scenes recreated in live action showing that not all game to film movies suck. Anderson, jovovich, rodriguez, they're all fans of the series and that represents the voice of all the other fans who made the series what it is today. Compared to other zombie flicks like night of the living dead, this film is more believable since its explanation for what's going on is actually possible and it makes sense why these zombies are actually dangerous. I mean, in NOTLD, the zombies moved like a block an hour. How can anybody really get caught by them if they actually tried to get away?

Léon: The Professional (1994)

The best, but with some apprehensions...

[10/10 · 2 June 2003]

A masterpiece in filmmaking. combination of action and drama with obvious intelligence placed into the narrative. Jean Reno's acting displayed his key to success by being dramatic yet maintaining a sense of masculinity expected by society for a narratives masculine characters. Gary Oldman is psychotic, a great antagonist who shows that he thinks before he acts. Natalie Portman is wonderful, showing off the talent, potential, and intelligence that she embodies. Leon's greatest element is the reversal used in the narrative making the hitman an hero and the cops the enemies. the only real problem I have doesn't come from the film, but from what happens to the actors afterward. Jeno Reno ending up in parts like Rollerball and Natalie Portman acting in star wars. Not that I have a problem with star wars, yet her acting abilities are seriously restrained for that part. Leon does have major potential for a sequel which I hear may be in the works but at the same time I can see where it could ruin the narrative if not handled correctly. Personally, the roots metaphor should be carried over and Mathilda should kill with a knife at the end due to that was proclaimed as the last lesson she would learn to be a real professional. See this film and watch the international version also if you get a chance. Both create a different feel toward the ending.