DarkAngeloX Reviews

Fasting (2017)

Probably the most unbiased information on Fasting yet. Two thumbs UP!

[8/10 · 27 July 2018]

The information was presented in a way to give the viewer dual sides of the story, without taking sides. I love the way the true stories of real people were juxtaposed against the scientific pros and cons of fasting. The filmmakers chose to present this information in a different way -- much better than a "fly on the wall" perspective. I prefer this over just running around with a camera filming folks. Viewers have a chance to hear actual issues, remedies, results and problems.

I didn't find the information confusing at all. In fact, I stopped halfway through and came back 1 hour later and picked right up where I left off. Also, the film is not a plug or advertisement for any fasting product or service. They quiet often remark how fasting is the the most free form of weightloss you can ever attempt.

After watching this documentary i immediately started my own fast. I lost 8 pounds (3.63 kilos) my first week.

Knocked Up (2007)

Good, yes! $100 million? HOW?

[7/10 · 22 July 2008]

I enjoyed this movie. I got past the vulgar language, I found many of the jokes truly funny and there was some chemistry between the two characters. Nearly every day we see couples where we think, "Why is SHE with him?" or "How did he get HER?" Thus the relationship is somewhat plausible. I guess I'm wondering how this movie reached a "common denominators" lowest or otherwise, that allowed it to surpass a box office of $100 million. Obviously there is an audience for this type of "joe-blow" humor, F-bombs, drug use and such because similar films have been successful in the past. Comedies and Romantic comedies are judged by box office and word of mouth. I'm wondering how word of mouth spread to widely to affect not only a national but international box office sleeper hit

Stomp the Yard (2007)

No prefacing...the movie was GOOD!

[7/10 · 23 November 2007]

Does this movie deserve a 2? No Way. I don't know why people feel the need to preface their voting. Did you like it? Yes. Period. I wasn't expecting a lot and perhaps that's why I had so much fun enjoying the film. I'm an indie filmmaker and sometimes it's a challenge to take off my filmmaker hat and just simply enjoy a movie. I was able to do it with this film. It was exciting, beautiful to watch and I was surprised by the storyline. People who slam a movie because it has a moral to the story or an uplifting theme should check themselves to see if they have too much cynicism running through their veins. As a black man, it was nice to see a film where characters used their wits and intelligence to avoid confrontation or deal with another's blatant disrespect. *****Oh, and the cinematography for this film was CRAZY!!! Great dance sequences, great camera work. It was SICK to the Nth!!!! Solid film to watch!!!

The Game Plan (2007)

The Game Plan as ALL THE RIGHT MOVES

[8/10 · 30 September 2007]

Personally, it was the trailers that made me want to see this movie from the start. Let's get serious, this was not supposed to be 'Shindler's List' or something. It's a comedy about a football player! If anyone expected anything more they were deluded from the start. "The Rock" was very decent in this role, but he wasn't supposed to be the superstar of the film, just the superstar of the team -- that a big difference. Pettis was amazing, as was Kyra Sedgwick. And the team...the team of knucklehead football players stole the show in every scene they were in. The comedy had its slapstick moments but for the most part it was heartfelt and warm. I took my 7 and 6 year old daughters to see and they loved it. Definitely a must-see family film and certainly a DVD buy!

Gameface (2007)

Hardcore indie film-making with the feel of a studio feature

[10/10 · 11 July 2007]

Jim Rhodimer and the Brash Studios/Aleron Entertainment crew have set a new standard in independent film-making (often guerrilla) with GAMEFACE. They've also set a new benchmark for what you can do with MiniDV and how great a film can look -- even on the big screen -- without spending tens of thousands in post production.

Set within the life of an embittered divorcé and the stunningly impactful rock music that defines his life as a musician, GAMEFACE takes us on an unapologetic journey of discovery. What does it take to get beyond the pain of heartbreak? How does one recover their connection with the goodness and excitement of life? What and who do we hold on to when all that we've known is gone? Often mixing music video style editing with edgier random and deliberate movement, GAMEFACE offers candy to the eyes and food for the heart. Each performance is deeply connected, not only to the story but to the theme of the film as well. All this can be attributed to brilliant casting, directing and editing -- an indie film trifecta! Too often in indie film-making stories tend to drag out, with the filmmakers getting caught up in redundancy for cinematic purpose. But with GAMEFACE the journey is the thing that links every scene, every sentence of dialog transcends typical ranting diatribe and speaks to the core of character. You'll be hard-pressed to find better dialog in an indie film.

As an indie filmmaker myself I look for inspiration amongst my peers and the folks who are happily on the same journey as I...GAMEFACE inspires me.

Philadelphia (1993)

Four people made this film...

[10/10 · 19 July 2006]

Even after 13 years this film still brings tears to my eyes. But let's face it, four people made this film. Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, the Jonathan Demme and Tak Fujimoto. tom Hanks above all was 10005 convincing as the betrayed lawyer who must fight his disease and fight his wrongful termination. Demme made the decision to shoot the film simply and subtle, except for in-your face close-ups and Fujimoto made it so. But Denzel Washington was the perfect counterpart to Hanks' character. Many people don't realize it but Denzel is us, the audience. He represents our transformation as we build a bond built on understanding and empathy. We change as he changes and that makes him a pivotal character in the film. Denzel often doesn't get much love. He is highly underrated, even with his Oscar win. He's only has one or two $100 million dollar films, yet most of his performances have been critically acclaimed.

Philadelphia would not be the same without him.

Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters (2006)

A definite "ADD" to the filmmaker's library

[10/10 · 4 July 2006]

Excellent documentary exploring the dichotomy, mystery and miracles of film-making. It's funny, serious, whimsical, self-contradictory, and full of the width and breath of personalities that rule Hollywood...behind or in front of the camera. Filmmakers from Sidney Pollack to George Clooney all take the stage in all their glory and personality to explain to the view the tricks, formulas, secrets, mysteries and miracles of film-making. We see that not as the A-List superstars they are, but as mere cogs in the Hollywood system deftly juggling creativity with the economics and politics of film-making. I highly recommend adding this to your library if you are a filmmaker in any sense of the word.

Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)

Herbie is a delight!

[6/10 · 17 June 2006]

I just watched Herbie Fully Loaded with my two daughters on DVD after catching a portion of it on cable not long ago. I have to say, my kids' eyes were glued to the television. Twice, my 5-yr-old daughter said she wanted to cry as a result of the touching scenes in the film. I was a good, honest and decent family movie.

Now on to the critics. I get so sick and tied of the wannabe film critics who regurgitate the crap they've heard someone else say. Doesn't anyone have an original critical thought? To all the people who complain and moan about product placement in movies or "suspending disbelief" I say, please go back to film watching 101. Going to the movies is about "suspending disbelief." Why turn it on after you've paid for your ticket and taken your seat in the theaters. And let me remind you, film production is very much a business. Who wouldn't fetch some extra money for a film when making a film is a gamble to start with? Let the kids enjoy the film. You won't have to worry about scantily clad women, profanity, adult language, bullets, sexual situations or gyrating bottoms scored with pop or hip hop music. Just go. watch. enjoy.

Broken (I) (2005)

Plain, plain, plain and EXTRAORDINARY

[6/10 · 18 April 2006]

I eagerly awaiting the DVD availability of Broken after viewing the trailer. The trailer was awesome and the editor made the most of the high production value of the film. However, I was someone disappointed with the "other" aspects of the film. The acting was decent on all sides as was the direction, but the story itself was lacking, too conventional and sometimes longwinded. N one can deny the high production value of the short. The filmmakers undoubtedly spent a lot of time, energy and effort to take the production value out of the low altitude budget range low budget film-making and into the stratosphere. they succeeded on all levels. And with the inclusion of over three hours of behind the scenes, how they did it footage, the DVD is worth a buy.

Thumbsucker (2005)

Tried hard, but I couldn't care for the main character

[5/10 · 13 February 2006]

I rented this film on Netflix and I wanted to like it. I even put aside my tendencies to critique it from the perspective of a discerning filmmaker. I'd recently watched "Junebug" and LOVED it (I didn't care much for "You, Me and Everyone We Know") -- so I hoped for the best. The film is tedious and boring at times. Although there are some moments that were sweet, the kid got on my last nerve. Sucking his thumb, then taking Hyper Active ADD Medicine, then ditching that medicine under the pretense of being honorable, and then changing to weed. C'mon. And the way this kid spoke to his parents was beyond me. I do not believe that kids speak to their parents like that on a regular basis. That's a stereotype. Basically, after an hour I hated the kid and wished someone would clock him upside the head and tell him to "man-up" --for chrissake, he's 17, not a child! It's not a horrible film...but aren't we supposed to care about the main character?

Supernatural (2005–2020)

Supernatural -- could be a Natural Winner

[19 September 2005]

I wasn't expecting to like Supernmatural, or to even watch it. But, my wife's friend saw the premiere and raved so we gave it a try. I liked what I saw -- especially the end scene. I wasn't quite expecting that and it made my spine tingle.

Caveats: the writers need to feel comfortable that they've established the brothers and their conflicted relationship and move on. The one-liner quip references to X-Files were humorous but will become tedious and uninspired if they continue. Using pop-culture references is always a tough sell -- very few people have done that well (Josh Whedon, Quentin Tarrantino) -- but it is not exactly taboo (In my opinion).

The show has promise, but I agree with the poster who said the show needed more original ghosts. Let's get real, you can just make up a ghost because, well... it's a ghost and there are no set characteristics for a supernatural being, right? Let's see more of the brothers and a more unique spin on the whole, "we're searching for the ghost who killed our mom" thing. It's my opinion that the family has some kind of curse on it and that should be the focus -- or rather how they get rid of the curse.

A Man Called Hawk (1989)

Hawk is STILL the man!

[17 September 2005]

I enjoy watching Ving Rhames and I am excited that he has journeyed into TV land with the new series remake, "KOJAK" -- but no one, and I mean NO ONE tops Avery Brooks as HAWK! Avery Brooks did what very few blacks in TV during the 80's could do - he played an "afrocentric," pro-black, take no prisoners everyman, without being a narrow minded, uptight militant. Militancy has its place in history but that's not what AMCH was about.

I long to see that engaging snarl of Hawk's with the quintessential growling "ahhh" that he often followed up with. Only Mr. Brooks could give life to something that had no meaning.

It's a shame to see that Avery hasn't gotten his due props in movies and TV. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was cool, but I wanted to See Avery in action---HAWK in action.

Maybe someday someone will think hard about putting Hawk on DVD for the masses -- not just for Africn Americans. I hope that times have changed just enough for the powers-that-be to factor in the huge crossover appeal of AMCH and of Avery Brooks.

What would be awesome would be to see Avery in action again, as Hawk, in a revival of the series. Surely there's a cable station or network out there that could truly give this show the chance it deserves to find its audience.

And hopefully, Mr. Brooks would WANT to do it.