Xcstacy Reviews

American Psycho (2000)

A Brilliant Mind Fulfilling Experience!

[10/10 · 18 July 2009]

Incredible Movie! First and foremost! This is a review in disregarding that specifics from the book were left out which would have been fun to see on screen but I understand that it may not have been possible.

Now this Movie as it is an incredible masterpiece, Patrick Bateman is a corner stone in Psycho's for movies after this movie, and due to that was because Christian Bale played that role to perfection! We have all come see what an incredible Actor Bale has become, he is a true method actor with every stretch of the word, he goes to the extreme to fulfill his roles in any movie he is in and this was no exception. This captures the insanity of a successful business man in the late 80's who has to put on a face for civilian life but behind closed doors he is a sociopath psychopath that has to feed on his murderous thirst of human life.

As stated earlier many things from the book were not put in however the movie is still a magnificent piece of art and Mary Harron did a great job with it, it is a shame she directs such few movies over her career I would love to watch more "true" films by her instead of all those television shows.

This has reached incredible plateau with everything it has achieved, and Patrick Bateman's character is something many have come to mimic the way he was created for film. This movie has also become a strong point of conversation piece due to the script writing which was phenomenal, next time reading something related to this film see how many references you can catch that come back to this film.

10/10 ~XTC

Ps. do you mind? Were trying to do drugs in here.

Memento (2000)

Unforgettable!

[10/10 · 18 July 2009]

The mind is a terrible thing to waste, it can play tricks with us, it controls who we know and recognize, what we are doing and how we feel. What if you had a rare condition that does not allow you to make new memories and you start back with a clean slate after every little bit? Well that is precisely what Leonard (Guy Pearce) has to live with. He is on a mission to find and exact revenge on the man who killed his wife. He only remembers what he has tattooed on his body to remind him of the path he is on and not to stray.

What makes this movie unlike any other ever before? It is the way it was shot and edited. The entire movie is being played backwards, no not exactly the way you are thinking, it is Chronologically in order how ever the black and white parts are before and colour parts are after, and it is going forward just not in order of which they happen. This may sound confusing and this was a main factor into why this movie has created not only a splash but a tidal wave across all other movies. The amount of debate about the movie, the story and plot, the actual disease and how things turn out create for discussions that still go on till today. A thing of beauty of this film is that some could have different interpretations of roles and story lines however it could go both ways and Nolan's beauty was the ability to keep the secrets to himself so this debate goes on and on.

Guy Pearce did a wonderful job however this was the brainchild of Christopher Nolan and this not only sky rocketed him onto the big name movies that he later directed such as Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, it created a new style of films. The unique style that he brought to this film and the ever confusing and debates that ravaged on after the movie with internet junkies and friends and the replay able factor of it has made this fall into 1 of the top movies of the decade, don't miss your chance to watch this, it is a thing of beauty.

10/10 ~XTC

Fight Club (1999)

From Cookie Dough into Carved out Wood

[10/10 · 18 July 2009]

WOW! - An instant CLASSIC! I may as well stop here; I highly recommend going to watch this movie especially before reading any further or anything about it from anyone.

This is a story about Tyler Durden, he looks like we want to look, acts like we want to act, and says what we want to say. He is sexy, smart and strong. He is what all men want to be, carefree and living in the moment without worry of what happens next and the balls to do anything he has ever wanted to do.

This unique story for the movie revolves around the notion that we are living for consumer products, and those products are ending up owning us instead of the other way around. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton play incredible roles in this movie that has changed the way we view cinematic movies. This is no pretty boy Brad Pitt either; it is merely another amazing job as an actor that he has done in over a decade. David Fincher did an excellent job in directing and brings us through the lead characters highs and lows and the ability to truly feel empathy for him.

After viewing this movie it quickly became in my top movies, and several years later I still enjoy it as the first day that I saw it which assures me it is 1 of my favourites in the past decade. It is smart, insightful, and not only touches on the social economics of humanities own discrepancies but shows us how psychologically tender and lost our minds can truly be.

If you have a fragile cookie dough view of the world, watch this movie and you'll come out carved out of wood and see some of what is wrong with this world today.

10/10 ~XTC

Fired Up! (2009)

Funny, Sexy, Graphic and an Overall Fun Experience

[8/10 · 18 July 2009]

If you want to see a high school teen comedy with sexy girls in nearly every frame of this movie, look no further! This movie was exactly what I wanted, a relaxed good time movie that I can enjoy during and not have a discussion about it after wards, also the really sexy ladies especially Danneel Harris didn't hurt either.

Although most of these actors are clearly older than high school students, they do look young so it isn't too difficult to see them in these roles. If you enjoyed American Pie and bring it on, this felt like a mix between the two.

It is about two young footballer who decide to join the cheerleading team so they can get with as many girls as they could but over the course of the movie they find themselves and learn what they truly enjoy and stop there immature ways. Sure it's been done 100's of times before but it was still enjoyable and the jokes and hotties helped lol. Several good side characters that really drive this movie forward without much boring parts at all, it is very fast paced and the times flies by while watching.

If you enjoy a Sunday afternoon comedy that you don't need to think much about look no further than Fired Up!

8/10 ~XTC

Near Dark (1987)

Smart, Cunning and a different twist on Vampires

[8/10 · 16 July 2009]

Over 20 years this movie has been out and barely older than I am, but I finally had a chance to watch it, and it was Fantastic! What an intuitive movie! It breaks the mold of what we as a society have come to think of vampires, and at a time when Vampires seem to be in every third movie coming out this was ahead of its time when it was released. What I thoroughly enjoyed was that there was no emphasis on labeling them as vampires. They were night creatures that travelled from place to place never staying in one location for long and not leaving any witnesses of who they killed to feed on.

Kathryn Bigelow directed this with beauty into showcasing the rough exterior that these creatures were. This was not your Gothic wearing, clean cut jewelry carrying guys and girls who drank blood…or animal blood. Kathryn showed us the gritty crack like behavior and homeless way of living that they had to endure and also how much they enjoyed being the predators killing what they could because they felt superior to the humans. The ending is very unconventional and many do not agree with it but why must the way we think of vampires be set in stone? Why is this not in the realm of possibility it isn't as if anyone in history has come across any real vampires to live or tell stories about them.

Great cast, great direction and great out the box thinking. Fantastic movie! 8/10 ~XTC

Moon (2009)

One truly Solitary film of ones own illustration of the soul

[10/10 · 12 July 2009]

I had to drive a far distance to be able to watch this movie because of the limited release. However the fact that it was being released here on the exact day of my birthday and knowing I would not be disappointed I had to make the trip to watch this.

Boy was I glad I did what an exquisite film! This is no Michael Bay explosion fest, it is a dramatic sci-fi thriller with thought provoking ideas and what would be considered immoral and non ethical for humanities future. Think of such themes to help describe the movie, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Machine. This has easily become top 10 movie of the year. Duncan Jones did a fantastic job but what really stands out like no other is the brilliant performance by Sam Rockwell. Such an ability to play emotions is a thing of beauty, and if he is not recognized by the academy this year it would be a crying shame.

This Movie's premise is that it is the distant future and we are using Helium 3 that we harvest from the dark side of the moon and transport over to earth. The entire station is run by a machine named Gerty and one man named Sam Bell who is on a 3 year contract. Sam has 2 weeks left before he gets to fly home and be with his family but a series of events lead to a hidden mystery revealed and the abuse of technology is truly a horrific thing. Sam's push towards finding himself and what is most important and defines his life drives this movie forward. Without giving away anything there are turns and ethical boundaries that are crossed and just imagining yourself in his or the company's shoe it would make you think twice.

A real intellectual film that we have been lacking as of late with all these summer action block busters, I highly recommend watching this movie not only to support the independent market but to show your appreciation to all who worked on it and promote Sam Rockwell's performance. One of my Favourites in some years.

10/10 ~XTC

Let the Right One In (2008)

The Greatest Beastly Allure

[10/10 · 12 July 2009]

When a movie is made last year, and is already topping most horror/vampire films of all time and has already been sold to Hollywood to make there own version(one of the fastest foreign films being recreated by Hollywood) you know you have something special on your hands.

Swedish creator Tomas Alfredson finds the beauty in something so beastly and violent, and he does it in a way that invites you in to want to learn more and be a part of that life. This movie has surpassed all expectations and it has garnered much attention by word of mouth and will quickly spread across North America in due time especially before its American version counterpart is released.

Finding someone such as Lina Leandersson will be a difficult task, she played this role to near perfection. Her ability to be inviting yet the ruthless killer due to her instinct is something mesmerizing to me even till now. All others played adequate parts in this movie and they did not overplay their parts as to take away from the dark atmosphere of the film. It did the book justice I just wish it went into Hakan's character a bit more but it did not take away from the film.

The premise of this movie is about a young girl with what appears to be her father move in to an apartment complex and their neighbour is a young boy named Oskar, who is getting bullied by his classmates. He meets the new neighbour Eli who shows him that he needs to stand up for himself and an emotional connection builds between these two young couple. Oskar finds out that Eli is different but does that stand in the way? The movie was created on a very low budget but the story and the mood that is set throughout the entire film is captivating and pulls into the story so well that you forget how little this movie costs. I for one look forward for the remake even though I don't think it will ever do this justice, I still always applaud most remakes for at least trying.

10/10 ~XTC

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Thrilling and Exciting, with non stop Humour and Action. A Must Watch this summer!

[8/10 · 28 June 2009]

Thrilling, exciting, CGI graphics to the next level all while keeping it a fun thrilled humorous ride throughout the entire film. Transformers 2 did an excellent job at what it is suppose to do which is entertain its audience. It had funny moments, over the top character actors, incredible graphics.

Michael Bay did it again with Revenge of the Fallen, he created a fun packed action film with some of Hollywood's young superstars who are becoming cash cows for the industry, such as Meagan Foxx who every teenager and grown up adult wants to fantasize about.

The story is filled with many plot holes, the characters are written very cliché, the 360 camera use and constant slow motion on screen were all there but if anyone can have those in a movie and still make one hell of an enjoyable film its these film creators they have done it before and they will do it again. Don't go into this movie expecting and serious relatable human people because everyone is exaggerated to the extreme and the fights are very chaotic when at times it shouldn't be and some parts you can't believe happened the way they did but during the movie this doesn't cross your mind.

This film is a summer blockbuster, it will bring enjoyment to those who watch it, it delivers state of the art CGI, action and a hottie on camera who oozes sex every second she is on screen. The movies that make the most money are rarely if ever the Oscar winners, they are the ones you enjoy the most and this movie delivers, if they had a most fun, enjoyment movie of the year, Transformers 2 would be a clear favourite for this year.

8/10 ~XTC

Tyson (2008)

Iron Mike, The Grit, Glamour, and Grime.

[9/10 · 26 June 2009]

After viewing the documentary about Mike Tyson I am in awe. This not only humanized him but it was a wake up call to how much truly go on offstage and how much effect it has onstage. This as real as we have ever seen Tyson, he gets emotional and doesn't shy away from anything.

James Toback did a wonderful job exposing the real side of Mike and showing us how tender he is on the inside. People were always looking at Mike as the unstoppable, but after seeing this and another light of his life I see now that he was a victim for most of life and that strength he puts forth is all about covering his weakness. I think Tyson doesn't truly acknowledge how strong he truly is though; his ability to take the blame for everything even if he was not to blame is amazing.

I have never felt I've known a boxer like I do now with Mike, even Ali with all the things he has achieved, he still seems to be a stranger outside the ring but now with Mike I know that he is human and one that has had to deal with many problems and taken scrutiny over much of it.

I wish Mike all the luck in his future and his family and wish that he may find peace and happiness.

This one is for you Iron Mike Tyson! 9/10

~XTC

Phoebe in Wonderland (2008)

Smart, Imaginative and Intriguing to all

[9/10 · 25 June 2009]

This movie was exquisite, it enthralled me with the opening scene of when to ask questions, question. Felicity, Patricia, and Bill gave great performances from very talented actors, and to be able to stand next to them and be only 10 years old this is why Elle Fanning is quickly making a rise to young superstardom.

This movie has tidbits of Shakespeare, Karl Marx and other literature icons, only thing missing was Nietzsche and Dostoyevsky. This was an incredible piece of drama it showed the psyche of a young girl with an illness to not control her ability to follow the rules. Something very common with what Marx wrote about. This was more than just about Elle's character it is about how she affects her family and those around her. We are given a performance where we can't believe she is acting the way she is yet we feel sorry for her and if we were in that situation of the adults we would probably look the other way.

Good luck to the future endeavors of this young rising star and great supporting cast I'm sure they have taught her things she will carry towards her future career.

9/10 ~XTC

Guns (2008–2009)

A hometown feel

[8/10 · 25 June 2009]

I have just watched part 1 and 2 of "Guns" mini TV-series and I thought it was fantastic. It will be a lot like previous homicide cop shows that have been made about N.Y. and L.A. but this one takes place in my hometown of Toronto which is what really attracted me to it. As far as global success it offers nothing new but for Canadian viewers it was very entertaining.

It had the right amount of conflict, violence, drama, and even some small comedic lines splattered across. This will be a shame if it is not picked up for at least 1 season to see where the writer goes with it. Because only through pain does one become stronger and that is what Bobby feels in the end of this series.

Guns have been a serious problem in our city, its nothing new but it is something that needs to be pointed out and this show although completely fictional it does help portray some of the violence that we have experienced in the past and even more so recently. I see a potential if some clichés are wiped out and if some story plots are intertwined a bit more and tighter, overall though I see a future if given a chance and they put forth the hard work.

8/10

~XTC

Mr. Troop Mom (2008 TV Movie)

Like a watermelon .kerrrsplat!

[5/10 · 21 June 2009]

"I just shaved…with a rock…the dull side" one of the few laughs out loud parts of this movie by George Lopez. This movie is exactly what you can guess, a family movie made for the young girls who are growing up and learning life lessons. As far as having a positive note and proper learning for kids this delivers, however when it comes to the content and overall fun it falls short.

I'm trying not to be critical because this is not a movie that is aimed at my demographic but I have found several Disney movies that I thoroughly enjoyed and this falls under the category of forgettable. It delivered what I expected a family movie with a lesson about family and friends but nothing more.

The editing could have been cleaner, and the story should have been told in a better fashion, too many holes were evident. Elizabeth Thai and Jane Lynch were what I found most enjoyable in this movie, they played there roles to be very straight forward but never went over the top like a few of the others.

All in all if you have a young girl who is looking for a fun movie this would suffice, I know my 5 year old niece enjoyed it very much.

~XTC

5/10 Good but could've been a lot better

Donnie Darko (2001)

Analytical Wordplay review

[10/10 · 21 June 2009]

I'm not sure if there is anything I can say that is both new and unique compared to what has already been said from someone else, so I am going to try to do something different and hopefully hasn't been done before. You will either enjoy it or I'll fail miserably and you can send me messages on how bad it was.

Mesmerizing movie, deep story lines, enthralling characters, mystified portrayals, provoking masterpiece, extremely thought provoking, hard thinking, photographic beauty, sounds of passion and feeling, terrifyingly real, futuristic past and present, real time well placed strategic scenes, every action has a reaction, every word has a meaning, every scene has a story in its own, perfect ensemble, perfect directorial debut, emotional range and undeniable out of body experience, literally, real? Fake? Future? Past? Present? Insane? Genius? Incredible analytical wordplay, strong emotional ranges from everyone, relatable and distinguishable, gloriously eternal, never forgetful, illustriously touching, everlasting.

Did you understand what I was trying to do or say? If not don't worry I don't either hopefully you enjoyed it though.

10/10 one of my all time 5 favourite movies.

~XTC

What Goes Up (2009)

"Every Action has a Reaction"

[8/10 · 20 June 2009]

Great introduction to movies by Jonathan Glatzer, this movie told us a story that is unique and bizarre about a small town teacher who has recently died and those around him that was affected. As one of the students quotes every Action has a Reaction and that is what drives this movie forward.

Olivia Thirbly and Josh Peck give us what we have come to expect from these young rising stars, Steve Coogan and Molly Shannon did not disappoint on most accounts, however I feel as though Hilary Duff needs to attune herself more proper to these roles. She is making the right steps into a direction out of Disney and I feel this will be an experience that will help her develop her acting talents for future roles.

The premise of this movie is very interesting, it revolves around the death of Sam Calallucci a teacher of misfit students who all felt very "in love" with him because he allowed them to be themselves. This makes me wonder why they decided to change the title of the movie from "Safety Glass" to "What Goes Up" I think the latter had more commercial appeal but the first title seemed to bring out more emotion. This was a very character driven movie however some should have been touched upon a bit more such as Josh's character but a movie can only be so long before boring its audience.

All in all I enjoyed this movie, it did have some weak links in acting and minor problems in its story which could have been written tighter if that wasn't what was the aim then some things should be left for interpretation in a more fashionable way.

8/10

~XTC

Freezer Burn (2007)

Frozen but thawed towards the end

[4/10 · 20 June 2009]

An Indie film for first time movie this got out of it what was put inn. This won't make your top 10 movie of the year but it also will not make your bottom 10 (unless you watch only 20 movies).

I went into this movie with no expectations as I had not heard of it before watching, so I did not really know what it was about. I read a short 1 sentence summary prior so I knew that time travel was involved and that is what initially got me interested. The premise of this movie and overall idea and story behind it is very interesting. It is nothing truly original it has been thought of before however I suppose not exactly ever done this way.

Robert Harriell is the only reason I kept watching this movie, he did a fantastic job playing his role, Ella Rae Peck also did a fantastic job as Emma. I feel that they carried this movie and they are the only people that I did not want to take my shoe off and throw at them because of how unbelievable some of the others were.

I don't have much else to say; besides it was an okay movie, I enjoyed it but it won't be everybody's cup of tea, it does move forward fairly slow and the humour in it is very dry and most may not find it too funny. Great first movie for the majority of the cast and crew who worked on this.

~XTC

Troy (2004)

Sick Movie

[5/10 · 19 September 2004]

First of all i thought this movie was awesome. All those people who are saying the original story was great and wolfgang peterson shouldn't have changed it and all that, you have to keep in mind that this is not a historical movie or in any way based on achillies actual life. it is set in that time period and during the Trojan war and wolfgang told his story from it, it might not have been 100% accurate but it was 100% fanatastic, great camera work, photography and fight sequences. Great movie and i would watch it again and again. beats the movie Gladiator which for some reason people loved any day of the week. i do have to admit that this movie needed to talk more about the other hero's of troy which were not mentioned and hector should have been stronger than they showed him, they made achilies far more powerful than hector he should have just slightly been more powerful.