Undercover Brother (2002) - 4/5

Undercover Brother (2002) - 4/5

So funny!

Neil Patrick Harris is awesome in this.

Dark Blue (2002) - 3.5/5

Dark Blue (2002) - 3.5/5

I liked this movie - good tension, action, characters, etc.

I like when movies parallel other events (and/or real events like the Rodney King officers' trial in this one).

Mid-Year Update

What I watched from 1/1/09-/6/30/09

66 movies so far this year. Average 11 per month (~3/week).

I might change my rating to be more like Netflix. It's a simpler system:
1/5 - hated id
2/5 - didn't like it
3/5 - liked it
4/5 - really liked it
5/5 - loved it

Top Rated:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - 5/5
Synecdoche, New York (2008) - 5/5
"Battlestar Galactica" (2004) - 5/5
Adaptation. (2002) - 5/5 (seen bef0re)
The Graduate (1967) - 5/5 (seen before)

Bottom Rated:
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) - 1/5
Cobra (1986) - 1/5


All movies (66):
Revolutionary Road (2008) - 4/5
Doubt (2008/I) - 4.5/5
Land of the Lost (2009) - 3.5/5
Taking Chance (2009) - 3.5/5
Away We Go (2009) - 4.5/5
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) - 1/5
The Love Guru (2008) - 3.5/5
The Tale of Despereaux (2008) - 3/5
Terminator Salvation (2009) - 3/5
The Dam Busters (1955) - 3.5/5
Lost in La Mancha (2002) - 3/5 documentary
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - 5/5
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (20...
My Name Is Bruce (2007) - 3/5
The Incredible Hulk (2008) - 2.5/5
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) - 2.5/5
Speed Racer (2008) - 2.5/5
Star Trek (2009) - 4/5
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Definitely, Maybe (2008) - 4/5
"Caprica" (2009) - 3.5/5
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) - 3.5/5
The Wrestler (2008) - 4.5/5
"Spaced" (1999) - 2.5/5 tv series
Adventureland (2009) - 4/5
Adaptation. (2002) - 5/5
Henry Poole Is Here (2008) - 3/5
High Fidelity (2000) - 3.5/5
The Foot Fist Way (2006) - 3/5
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - 4.5/5
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) - 4/5 documentary
Son of Rambow (2007) - 3/5
Deconstructing Harry (1997) - 2.5/5
The Fountain (2006) - 3.5/5
The Graduate (1967) - 5/5
Smultronstället (1957) - 4/5 subtitles
Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008) - 4/5 documentary
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008) - 4/5 documentary
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - 4.5...
Duplicity (2009) - 3/5
Hud (1963) - 3/5
Haine, La (1995) - 2.5/5
Synecdoche, New York (2008) - 5/5
Apocalypto (2006) - 3.5/5
Bolt (2008) - 3.5/5
Helvetica (2007) - 3/5 documentary
Young at Heart (2007) - 4/5 documentary
Man on Wire (2008) - 4.5/5 documentary
frontline: is wal-mart good for america? - 4/5 documentary
Sunshine (2007) - 3.5/5
Cop Land (1997) - 3/5
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) - 4.5/5
Death Proof (2007) - 4/5
Taken (2008/I) - 3.5/5
He's Just Not That Into You (2009) - 4/5
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) - 4/5
Planet Terror (2007) - 3/5
28 Weeks Later (2007) - 3/5
28 Days Later... (2002) - 3.5/5
What Happens in Vegas (2008) - 1.5/5
Hitman (2007) - 3/5
Yes Man (2008) - 3.5/5
"Battlestar Galactica" (2004) - 5/5
Cobra (1986) - 1/5
The Queen (2006) - 3.5/5
Marley & Me (2008) - 4/5


From Netflix (43 - avg ~7/month):
Revolutionary Road
The Return of Captain Invincible
Doubt
Taking Chance
The Dam Busters
Lost in La Mancha
My Name Is Bruce
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Incredible Hulk
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Speed Racer
Definitely, Maybe
Battlestar Galactica: Caprica
The Wrestler
Spaced: The Complete Series: Disc 2
Spaced: The Complete Series: Disc 1
The Foot Fist Way
Dogtown and Z-Boys
Son of Rambow
Slumdog Millionaire
The Fountain
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
Hud
La Haine
Apocalypto
Helvetica
Young @ Heart
Breach
Man on Wire
Is Wal-Mart Good for America?: Frontline
Sunshine
Cop Land
The Last Sin Eater
The Bourne Ultimatum
Grindhouse: Death Proof
Grindhouse: Planet Terror
28 Weeks Later
28 Days Later
Ali
Hitman
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4: Disc 4
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4: Disc 3
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4: Disc 2

Lost in La Mancha (2002) - 3/5

Lost in La Mancha (2002) - 3/5

Interesting to see just b/c of what it is, but I can't say it's anything better than the idea: documenting making a movie... that doesn't finish getting made.

I think this movie suffered from several things the kept it from getting made. The budget hurt, but really it's the makers that failed to then spend w/in that budget.

The weather was killer, but only b/c the schedule was so tight b/c of other things.

The actors schedules were hard to organize mainly b/c they didn't have a budget, but I think the real solution there is: use cheaper actors.

Do the real downfall was trying to a make a big budget movie w/ a big budget.

I cdn't help but think that those responsible (director, 1st AD, etc.) wdn't the be ones suffering from all the mistakes. It wd be the crew who wd suddenly be out of work.

Anyway, it's an interesting view into movie-making and how it is (and isn't) done... at least in some senses.

Adaptation. (2002) - 5/5

Adaptation. (2002)

Writting at it's best. (10.25.06)

UPDATED: 4.27.09

So great.

28 Days Later... (2002) - 3.5/5

28 Days Later... (2002) - 3.5/5

Zombie movies pretty much get an automatic extra point from me b/c they're awesome.

I liked the feel of this movie - sorta low budget feel, but also well done.

The action was good, not too reliant on the 'spook' effect. Very gory and brutal and a bit deeper and relationship oriented than most movies like this.

Equilibrium (2002) - 1.5/5

Equilibrium (2002) - 1.5/5

I started this yesterday and almost decided not to finish it. I read someone's excited review about it online and decided to finish it out. Regret.

If I hadn't seen a clip w/ the writer/director, I wd have been sure this was written, directed and the fights choreographed all by 14 year old boys.

Bad on most levels.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - 3.5/5

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

NEXT: "Wanted" (2008)

Better than Episode I if for no other reason than there's much less Jar-Jar. Though he does affect the story in a big way when the Emperor tricks him into putting forth the motion in the Senate to give him more power.

I've always felt that Anakin is pretty much a big baby: "it's not fair!" I know the point is that he's driven by his emotions, but come on! How can anyone that childish train for anything let alone to be a Jedi. Also, how cd any former queen of a planet fall in love w/ that?

Haiku Summary
Big baby wants girl.
Mom dies so he kills them all.
It must be true love.

Hellboy (2004) - 3/5

Hellboy (2004)

This movie was fine. There were some good aspects and some weaker ones. The characters were pretty good, but it was just a little too campy. The action was fine, but never really believable b/c I felt like I was watching a video game to a degree.

NEXT: "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" (2002)

Haiku Summary
Good verses evil.
Hellboy wants girl, but it'll
never work. Big fits.

Hable con ella (2002) - 3/5

Hable con ella (2002) (Talk To Her)

NEXT: "The Last Dragon" (1985)

It's hard to say what this movie is about, but it's well made and mostly pleasant to watch. It's very powerful and uses people's longings and dreams in a powerful way.

The characters are deep and identifiable.

Despite being well made and rich in many ways, some important things don't hit quite right. There's not really anything that draws this movie to me. It's not really entertaining or sheds light on anything new. But remains w/ me w/ the characters.

Haiku Summary
Two men with women
in comas bond. One crazy.
He dies. She wakes. End.

21 (2008) - 2.5/5

21 (2008)

NEXT: "Talk to Her" (2002)

Somewhat entertaining at times, but ultimately thin and weak. Lots of predictability, bad acting and thing plot. Also, some bad twists.

Haiku Summary
Smart kids rob Vegas.
Teacher is mean, takes money.
Jokes on him. Surprise!

Mies vailla menneisyytt� (The Man Without a Past) (2002) - 3/5

Mies vailla menneisyytt� (2002)

NEXT: "The Omega Man" (1971)

Slow, but done well. Always interesting to see how another culture conceives an interesting plot line. Nothing earth shattering here, but interesting to see it played out.

I don't remember what prompted me to see this movie, but I always like a good amnesia story.

Haiku Summary
Beat up by thugs a
man can't remember. Friends, love,
found, but stays with new.

American Gangster (2007) - 3/5

American Gangster (2007) - Full cast and crew

Next: "The Man Without a Past" (2002)

I liked the first half of this movie and how they built up the characters and the tension, but then the second half just kinda rode that out. I know there was only so much they cd do since it was based on a true story, but maybe they sd have shortened it.

I'm having a hard time remembering too many of the points I wanted to make about this movie which tells me it wasn't that memorable.

Haiku Summary:
Frank takes over the
drug biz and gets rich. I think
he helped cops later.

Treasure Planet (2002) - 3.5/5

Treasure Planet (2002)

This is a very interesting animated movie in several areas: mix of 2D and 3D, the characters, the scope, etc.

The story is solid and the characters are fully developed. The action is good too.

It's more serious than funny (like Pocahontas and Tarzan) though the robot is pretty comical.

I think the production quality is way up on this one so the animation, effects, details, characters, etc. are really good. It's a Ron Clements and John Musker movie which says a lot.

There's some great behind the scenes/making of stuff on the DVD too.

Haiku Summary
Boy finds treasure map.
Goes w/ pirates. Dad figure
turns, boy saves them all.

NEXT: "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"

Stone Reader (2002) - 3.5/5

Stone Reader (2002)

I really like the idea of this movie. I really like it. Countless times have I read some book or similar and wanted to track down the author. I wanted to discover some hidden treasure, etc. I'm actually kind of doing it now but I don't want to give any details here.

Unfortunately the first half of this movie is more about the guy making it and is filled with shots of fields, flowers, trees, him doing yard work, etc. He narrates over it what's been happening, but it's slow.

There's also shots of friends getting UPS/FedEx packages delivered to them which a) aren't very interesting and b) cd have been shot any time so it feels like filler.

The second half has a lot more things of interest happening and that's when it gets good. If you can make it past the first half, it's worth it. If you can't, just scan ahead, you really won't miss too much (though you might not appreciate the payoff as much???).

Haiku Summary
Guy reads book after
many years. Great, but author
is gone. He finds him.

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV) - 0/5

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV)

Just bad all around: commercial, story, hidden adult humor, Whoopi Goldberg, etc.

Far from Heaven (2002) - 2.5/5

Far from Heaven (2002)

Not good. I'm not sure if the cliche '50s style acting was overboard on purpose or to make a point.

SPOILERS

It was interesting how the gay husband wrecks his family and is pretty selfish all around, does what he wants and leaves, but the wife foregos her 'wants' (as does the object of her affection) for what's best (avoiding a difficult life for them all, hurting her kids, etc.).

Maybe that's just what I took away from it, but it seemed like a strange ending to a film that was trying to make a statement.

Gangs of New York (2002) - 3.5/5

Gangs of New York (2002)

Great acting, characters and setting, but ultimately I didn't really buy into the story from Vallon/Amsterdam's point of view.

It was interesting to see it all w/in the backdrop of the changing America.

SPOILERS

I guess b/c he got so close w/ Bill that I didn't feel the revenge strong enough to really want him to kill him.

Spellbound (2002/I) - 3/5

Spellbound (2002/I)

I liked "Wordplay" (see recent post) more. This documentary focuses more on the people in the movie whereas "Wordplay" focuses on the game and object of their passion. Ironically, I think you get more of the people from "Wordplay" than this.

That cd be b/c it's about kids and some of the passion and meaning fall out of it and it comes close to just being about "spelling words." Also, the stakes are higher which can take some of the fun out of it ("Wordplay" is just about people enjoying puzzles, no stress or pressure... to me).

The kids are great, but either the filmmakers didn't capture them well or there just isn't a ton there yet. Also, it cd be b/c they focused on 8 kids. That's a lot. After a while, I got a few of them mixed up in my head.

Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002) - 4.5/5

Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002)

I wanted to watch this after "End of the Spear" and I think it's much better. I tend to like the actual people telling the stories. Plus, the real locations, people, photos and film, etc. So great.

This has much more backstory and explinations of their ideas, intentions, mindsets and heart for what they were doing.