Gosford Park (2001)
Like "Gangs of New York" - good acting, characters and setting, but nothing I really wound up caring about. They did a good job of really building up the reality of the house/people/servants/etc. That was great, but then they didn't do a ton w/ it.
SPOILERS
The murder just didn't really matter to me. The idea of the "who dunnit" in this setting is clever and original, but maybe not a great result.
The scene w/ the 2 sisters near the end was the best part of the movie, IMO.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query (2001). Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query (2001). Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Little Bear Movie (2001) - 2.5/5
The Little Bear Movie (2001)
NEXT: Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007)
We got this for our 3 year old. He picked it out. It's a sweet story. It's pretty calm and not scary and fairly funny. Not really something adults wd get into, but certainly something I'm fine w/ him watching.
Haiku Summary:
Little Bear meets Cub.
Cub lost parents in storm. They
search and find them. Cute.
NEXT: Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007)
We got this for our 3 year old. He picked it out. It's a sweet story. It's pretty calm and not scary and fairly funny. Not really something adults wd get into, but certainly something I'm fine w/ him watching.
Haiku Summary:
Little Bear meets Cub.
Cub lost parents in storm. They
search and find them. Cute.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) - 4/5
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) - 4/5
I was afraid this wd be fairly lame, but really liked it! I remember a lot of the things from that time of skateboarding (empty pools, thin boards, etc.). It was great to see a combination of how it got started, who did it, how it evolved, etc.
I thought they did a great job of telling the story, making it personal, mixing it w/ the times and bringing the original skaters to life on the screen.
It was nostalgic, fun, interesting and personal.
I probably won't see the fictionalized version: "Lords of Dogtown" I'm just too scared it wd ruin it.
I was afraid this wd be fairly lame, but really liked it! I remember a lot of the things from that time of skateboarding (empty pools, thin boards, etc.). It was great to see a combination of how it got started, who did it, how it evolved, etc.
I thought they did a great job of telling the story, making it personal, mixing it w/ the times and bringing the original skaters to life on the screen.
It was nostalgic, fun, interesting and personal.
I probably won't see the fictionalized version: "Lords of Dogtown" I'm just too scared it wd ruin it.
Friday, November 03, 2006
K-PAX (2001) - 3/5
K-PAX (2001)
It's a good movie trying maybe to be too much. The acting is good and the premise is interesting, but I didn't feel it really went anywhere. Also, I didn't feel like they tied the 'discovery' (of the lesson) into the other characters well enough.
So they set us up well and sorta left us hanging.
SPOILERS:
IMO, he's from K-Pax. He knew too much science, disappeared from the institution for a while, Bess was missing at the end, he was 'in character' even when hypnotized, etc. Hard to say, but that's what I'd have to guess. However, they clearly left it open for a reason so figuring out for sure isn't necessary to me.
It's a good movie trying maybe to be too much. The acting is good and the premise is interesting, but I didn't feel it really went anywhere. Also, I didn't feel like they tied the 'discovery' (of the lesson) into the other characters well enough.
So they set us up well and sorta left us hanging.
SPOILERS:
IMO, he's from K-Pax. He knew too much science, disappeared from the institution for a while, Bess was missing at the end, he was 'in character' even when hypnotized, etc. Hard to say, but that's what I'd have to guess. However, they clearly left it open for a reason so figuring out for sure isn't necessary to me.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Training Day (2001) - 3.5/5
Training Day (2001)
Good movie - intense.
To protect the sheep from wolves, you have to become a wolf yourself.
Spoilers:
Hoyt seems a little too 'green' coming into his position, but that works for the most part.
His 'do good' perspective early on helps save a girl which later comes back to save himself. Probably a larger message w/in the story - doing good saves you.
In the end, Hoyt does seem to lose a little when he leaves w/ the money Harris needed knowing what wd happen to him. It works in the film though.
Good movie - intense.
To protect the sheep from wolves, you have to become a wolf yourself.
Spoilers:
Hoyt seems a little too 'green' coming into his position, but that works for the most part.
His 'do good' perspective early on helps save a girl which later comes back to save himself. Probably a larger message w/in the story - doing good saves you.
In the end, Hoyt does seem to lose a little when he leaves w/ the money Harris needed knowing what wd happen to him. It works in the film though.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001) - 4/5
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
Good, clean fun. Good story w/ plenty of action to move it along. The personalities and characters are great and it really goes how you'd like it to. Extremely creative w/ great animation.
Some people may not like it so much b/c it's so much of a 'kids' movie, but I liked that aspect too.
Good, clean fun. Good story w/ plenty of action to move it along. The personalities and characters are great and it really goes how you'd like it to. Extremely creative w/ great animation.
Some people may not like it so much b/c it's so much of a 'kids' movie, but I liked that aspect too.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Made (2001) - 2/5
Made (2001)
Slightly entertaining, but quite disappointing given the past success of this duo in "Swingers."
Vince Vaughn spouts his usual excess which is normal art, but this time annoying (though it's clearly suppose to be).
The movie feels like a series of events that the viewer, and characters, doesn't know the goal of. Also, the ending feels forced and a bit trite.
Slightly entertaining, but quite disappointing given the past success of this duo in "Swingers."
Vince Vaughn spouts his usual excess which is normal art, but this time annoying (though it's clearly suppose to be).
The movie feels like a series of events that the viewer, and characters, doesn't know the goal of. Also, the ending feels forced and a bit trite.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) - 2/5
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
Woody Allen movies are generally ok, but he isn't a good actor to me. And putting any type of love story in his movies is laughable if not insulting.
I thought the acting was fairly weak all around.
The story was pretty good and fairly classic in the "film noir" style.
The ending felt very forced and rushed. Amateur even. The one-liners felt so setup that you really cd tell they went out of their way for a line or two to get them in.
It all comes together in a decent movie, but nothing great.
Woody Allen movies are generally ok, but he isn't a good actor to me. And putting any type of love story in his movies is laughable if not insulting.
I thought the acting was fairly weak all around.
The story was pretty good and fairly classic in the "film noir" style.
The ending felt very forced and rushed. Amateur even. The one-liners felt so setup that you really cd tell they went out of their way for a line or two to get them in.
It all comes together in a decent movie, but nothing great.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Ali (2001) - 3.5/5
Ali (2001) Powerful and well done. Not a "boxing movie."
I was surprised to find that this movie glorifies nothing and no one: not Ali, not boxing, not Islam, not really anything. It all looks pretty bad.
The opening scene sets the tone of Ali working out w/ flashes to his background in confusion of identity and Sam Cooke's performance w/ all the ladies.
Ali starts w/a relationship w/ him and soon turns strongly to Malcolm X and Islam. W/ all these relationships and more including the U.S. government, his wives, Don King, etc. he "fights" his own fight in his own way. And usually he loses.
I saw a man who despite all his claims of who he is, he has no idea who he is. He only sees himself as the Champ and is fighting to make it true.
I was surprised to find that this movie glorifies nothing and no one: not Ali, not boxing, not Islam, not really anything. It all looks pretty bad.
The opening scene sets the tone of Ali working out w/ flashes to his background in confusion of identity and Sam Cooke's performance w/ all the ladies.
Ali starts w/a relationship w/ him and soon turns strongly to Malcolm X and Islam. W/ all these relationships and more including the U.S. government, his wives, Don King, etc. he "fights" his own fight in his own way. And usually he loses.
I saw a man who despite all his claims of who he is, he has no idea who he is. He only sees himself as the Champ and is fighting to make it true.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Mist (2007) - 3/5
The Mist (2007)
NEXT: "The Little Bear Movie" (2001)
Decent for a B movie so I hope that's what they were going for. You have to look past some things in the usual vein: they wdn't do that, why are they so stupid, shut her up, etc.
Of course they have the obligatory whacko Christian weirdo to call down fire and brimstone. It's a cliche that never gets old... or was never new???
The intensity is pretty good and the premise and stuff is cool, but it doesn't play out quite right. There's too many caveats and such to really pull it off.
SPOILERS:
It had about as good of an ending as "The Last American Virgin" in a sense. Terribly sad, but painfully ironic. If I was able to take this movie more seriously, it wd have been a horrific ending. But since I found it rather silly and mostly a "high production B movie," I was able to take it in stride.
Haiku Summary:
Storm. Mist. Death. What is
it? Monsters. Big ones. Leave or
die. Leave. Most die. Saved.
NEXT: "The Little Bear Movie" (2001)
Decent for a B movie so I hope that's what they were going for. You have to look past some things in the usual vein: they wdn't do that, why are they so stupid, shut her up, etc.
Of course they have the obligatory whacko Christian weirdo to call down fire and brimstone. It's a cliche that never gets old... or was never new???
The intensity is pretty good and the premise and stuff is cool, but it doesn't play out quite right. There's too many caveats and such to really pull it off.
SPOILERS:
It had about as good of an ending as "The Last American Virgin" in a sense. Terribly sad, but painfully ironic. If I was able to take this movie more seriously, it wd have been a horrific ending. But since I found it rather silly and mostly a "high production B movie," I was able to take it in stride.
Haiku Summary:
Storm. Mist. Death. What is
it? Monsters. Big ones. Leave or
die. Leave. Most die. Saved.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
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
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
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Akira (1988) - 3.5/5
Akira (1988)
"Neo-Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E."
I think I saw this in high school, but don't remember it really.
I watched it in Japanese w/ subtitles which I think was a good move.
Artistic animation w/ a cool futuristic/action/sci-fi feel and story.
It's a cautionary message about the future, cities/government taking over, the individual being lost and worthless, etc. I'm on board w/that.
SPOILERS
The last about 20 minutes remind me of the end of "2001" where you're not really sure what's going on "birth of a new universe" and such. I'm not sure it really fits... actually, it fits the movie, but maybe not the message.
Unless they're trying to say, it will all just start over so don't worry... though it doesn't in the movie.
Haiku summary
future biker kids
one gets big mental powers
big fight, where'd he go?
"Neo-Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E."
I think I saw this in high school, but don't remember it really.
I watched it in Japanese w/ subtitles which I think was a good move.
Artistic animation w/ a cool futuristic/action/sci-fi feel and story.
It's a cautionary message about the future, cities/government taking over, the individual being lost and worthless, etc. I'm on board w/that.
SPOILERS
The last about 20 minutes remind me of the end of "2001" where you're not really sure what's going on "birth of a new universe" and such. I'm not sure it really fits... actually, it fits the movie, but maybe not the message.
Unless they're trying to say, it will all just start over so don't worry... though it doesn't in the movie.
Haiku summary
future biker kids
one gets big mental powers
big fight, where'd he go?
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Andromeda Strain (1971) - 2.5/5
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
NEXT: "Dan in Real Life" (2007)
Wow. Slow. It felt like "THX-1138" and "2001" in a lot of ways. An interesting idea/story, but only decently told.
About 40% of the movie is watching the scientists prep for the sterile environment. Another 50% is watching them use robotic tools. The other 10% is the resolution at the very end... maybe it's only 5%.
You might be able to make a higher case for this story's implications about science and man and our position and such. About the decisions we have to make about humanity and who has the right to know this or cause that or how we might be playing God at times. I can see those arguments in there, but unfortunately the metal arms get more screen time and their humming gets most of the dialog.
Haiku Summary
Satellite falls. Town
dies. Unknown cause. Robotics.
Watch. Wait. Slow. Scare! Done.
NEXT: "Dan in Real Life" (2007)
Wow. Slow. It felt like "THX-1138" and "2001" in a lot of ways. An interesting idea/story, but only decently told.
About 40% of the movie is watching the scientists prep for the sterile environment. Another 50% is watching them use robotic tools. The other 10% is the resolution at the very end... maybe it's only 5%.
You might be able to make a higher case for this story's implications about science and man and our position and such. About the decisions we have to make about humanity and who has the right to know this or cause that or how we might be playing God at times. I can see those arguments in there, but unfortunately the metal arms get more screen time and their humming gets most of the dialog.
Haiku Summary
Satellite falls. Town
dies. Unknown cause. Robotics.
Watch. Wait. Slow. Scare! Done.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Home Movie (2001) - 3/5
A documentary about 5 people/couples living in unusual homes and locations.
Somewhat interesting and fortunately short. I think they do a good job of finding interesting cases to document, but ultimately I think they stay too shallow and not get into the core of these interesting people.
These people are living in places I wd love to live in if it were practical (well, may all except the cat people). I wd love a gadget house, a tree house, a house boat or a missle silo house! So cool.
These people are doing that and it takes very unique people to do it. However, I felt like the film didn't get deeply enough into them to really take advantage of the oppurtunity.
Somewhat interesting and fortunately short. I think they do a good job of finding interesting cases to document, but ultimately I think they stay too shallow and not get into the core of these interesting people.
These people are living in places I wd love to live in if it were practical (well, may all except the cat people). I wd love a gadget house, a tree house, a house boat or a missle silo house! So cool.
These people are doing that and it takes very unique people to do it. However, I felt like the film didn't get deeply enough into them to really take advantage of the oppurtunity.
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