Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) - 4/5

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005): "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)" - 4/5

Next: "Star Wars" (1977)

The best of the new three - least Jar-Jar. Darker, but I think that's necessary.

Anakin beats Luke as the whiniest Jedi ever. :)

Haiku Summary:
Anakin has a
temper. Married, preg, wants
to save wife. Goes dark.

Serenity (2005) - 4/5

Serenity (2005)

I really liked the series (last post) and enjoyed the movie too. I think the movie was a great extension of the series: similar, but bigger, answers, but not too much 'ending.' I hope there's more movies, but I don't feel there necessarily has to be... but it wd be nice.

I'm watching the commentary by writer/director Joss Whedon now which tells me that I'm really enjoying the story behind the story. There's a lot here for a sci-fi fan and just someone who enjoys a good success based on a long-shot story.

SPOILERS

I really don't try hard to find faults in this movie, but when Mal first shoots the Operative, he sd have done more to get rid of him. They don't say this, but I have to wonder if he didn't want him dead for some reason. The second time he has a chance at him, he doesn't take it again. I was disappointed in that, but I think he wanted him to follow so that he wd see the video.

They don't explain that and I'm not sure if I'm right or not. If I'm right, they're probably giving the audience too much credit to figure that out. I'm surprised I did - I'm sure I wdn't have if I didn't try since I was bothered by Mal leaving him basically unharmed. So much of this story has been well done that I assumed this was too so that's my explination.

Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005) - 1/5

Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005)

Very little new information and laughable "dramatizations" of the stereotypes from each decade and the fans. Those were so bad that they were probably the best part.

It was drawn out and w/ so much LOTR info out there, it just didn't have anything really new or interesting.

Tugger: The Jeep 4x4 Who Wanted to Fly (2005) (V) - 2/5

Tugger: The Jeep 4x4 Who Wanted to Fly (2005) (V)

NEXT: "21" (2008)

I believe this was Animated Family Films first effort and while it wasn't very good, I've seen worse. Also, there's some good aspects of this movie though maybe not by industry standards: no violence, innuendo, "hidden" adult humor, etc.

It's short - like 52 mins and has a lot of cute parts, but across the board it's lacking.

Haiku Summary
A Jeep wants to fly.
Dreams, tries, crash then forgotten.
Found, repaired and "flies."

The Squid and the Whale (2005) - 4.5/5

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

A fairly painful, awkward, uncomfortable and powerful movie. Dense, to use a word from the movie.

The opening scene tells most of the story of this movie, but you don't know it quite yet.

SPOILERS

The dad is a fairly lame, fake "man" who is riding on his egotism and judgment of others despite not being able to be honest w/ himself or those around him. The mother isn't much better. The oldest son clearly mimics the dad and thinks dangerously to high of himself ("I think I cd have written it so the fact that it was already written is just a technicality.").

One of the best scenes is the older son's visit to the psychologist - his description of his time w/ his mom when he was young was just amazing. So vivid and powerful and touching.

So what or who are the squid and the whale? I think it might be his parents. They are fighting and are caught in an inescapable grapple where no one ever stops or wins. It might also be a symbol of fears in life. When he was a kid, he cdn't look at the squid and the whale except for through his fingers.

At the end, he forces himself to face his fears, to face reality. To grow up and face himself.

Haiku Summary
Two kids, parents split.
All kinds of dysfunction here.
No one wins. Hey, You.

End of the Spear (2005) - 3.5/5

End of the Spear (2005)

An important story told fairly well. Not a great movie, but it tells and good and important true story.

It wasn't so much about Jim Elliot like I expected, but others and the tribe and such.

I wd recommend "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" over this movie.

Shopgirl (2005) - 3/5

Shopgirl (2005)

A good little story not trying to take on too much. What makes a relationship work? What makes a person happy? Why sd two people be together?

I love the pace of this movie. It cdn't be slower and more relaxing. Even the intense scenes are slow.

SPOILERS

I have to say that if I was suppose to buy into Mirabelle and Jeremy being together at the end, I don't think I can. I mean, at least, not buy into it and be satisfied w/ it. He just picked up a girl at her art show and slept w/ her soon before they're together. I'm not sure he's all that great of a guy. As for whether or not they are "right" for each other, that may be a separate question, but I think my feeling on it holds.

UPDATE: It seems Mirabelle is given the choice btwn 2 men. Neither, at first, can give her himself: one is self-absorbed and the other is emotionally closed off. However the second can give her other things like attention, gifts, etc. which are good but ultimately not enough.

Jeremy changes and eventually can give himself to her which, in movie reality, is love and is the 'right choice.'

I have to question if at any point either of them are right for her.

Block Party (2005) - 2/5

Block Party (2005)

I had high hopes for this movie w/ Dave making some good observations and being open minded and showing others doing the same.

The 'Broken Angel' couple is probably the highlight of the movie but it has little to do w/ anything else Dave did or intended.

The concert brought everything back down to a disappointing level.

Madagascar (2005) - 4/5

Madagascar (2005)

I really liked this movie. The overall story is decent and the characters are good, but the details and little jokes throughout the whole story cracked me up. I just really liked the detailed thought they put into the little actions and jokes and idiosyncrasies of everything: the personalities of the penguins, the mannerisms of the animals, the quick side jokes w/ the monkeys, etc.

So while this movie isn't like an 'instant classic', I had a lot of fun w/ it.

Junebug (2005) - 3/5

Junebug (2005)

This movie might be trying to be too deep for its own good. The characters are pretty good (except for the over-the-top brother). Amy Adams is great. W/o her, I'd say this wd be far lower scored by me.

I'm not sure what I want for these characters and for most of them, I don't really care (except for Amy Adams' character).

SPOILERS

So what are they trying to say? That who need to accept people as they are? That people don't change? There's a clear tension btwn family and career and I can't tell what they are trying to say... or maybe they're just presenting the question.

Haiku Summary
A couple goes to
the country for art, family.
What's more important?

NEXT: "The Brothers Solomon" (2007)

Derailed (2005/I) - 3.5/5

Derailed (2005/I)

Good tension and characters. Just about everyone in this movie makes you feel uneasy/uncomfortable. Even the sick daughter just makes you feel uneasy.

It's nice that they didn't glamorize adultery. :)

SPOILERS:

Unfortunately, NGG (No Good Guys). Charles is the main character, but it's hard to sypathize w/him b/c he's trying to have an affair and lying to his family, etc.

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005) (V) - 3.5/5

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005) (V)

I thought this was a well-done version of a biased documentary. They presented the arguments and didn't really seem to hide their stance (Heck, even the title implies they have something negative towards WalMart).

However, the did it in a classy way so that you want to try to see their side and give their arguments some credit.

I was afraid this movie was going to focus too much on low wages and poor benefits which is hard to blame on WalMart. They're just giving us what we want: low prices at the cost of our economical future and local jobs, etc.

They wd pay a higher wage if fewer people were willing to work there. They wdn't run local businesses out if local residences didn't shop there, etc.

I'm not fan of WalMart and I don't shop there. I don't think their policies (from what I understand) are generally illegal (though they have lost more than their share of law suits on not paying employees for overtime, EPA violations, etc.), but I'd have to say they are somewhat immoral.

The several former WalMart managers they have in the movie describe the practices and many are clearly wrong and illegal. Who's to say they are accurately telling the truth, but if they are...

The biggest thing about this to me is that people shop there thinking they're getting a good deal when really the cost is just coming from somewhere else: higher taxes to pay for subsidies paid to WalMart, lost jobs to overseas factories, lower quality products, larger drain on social programs, etc.

Factotum (2005) - 1/5

Factotum (2005)

Decently acted, but the story and characters are fairly weak. Not much to like here and little reason to try. It started a bit weak and got worse.

"Extras" (2005) - 3.5/5

"Extras" (2005)

Not a "hilarious" show. Clever and original, but nothing incredible and kinda slow.

Also, it suffered from high expectations from me.

Just Like Heaven (2005) - 2/5

Just Like Heaven (2005)

Cute, but unoriginal, cliché, predictable, sappy, cheesy w/ sub-par acting, imo.

I get no joy in saying those things about it... kinda like watching the movie itself. :)

I thought this was "Far From Heaven" when I added it to my queue.

Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - 3/5

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

The action was pretty good and the battles wd have been incredible if I cd have prevented myself from comparing them to LOTR.

The story was good, but I didn't buy into it all 100% as far as a love story or his commitment to his family, people, religion, etc.

Mostly I think Orlando Bloom just cdn't pull it off IMO.

Chicken Little (2005) - 2.5/5

Chicken Little (2005)

Nothing wrong w/ this movie, but nothing great either.

Marche de l'empereur, La (2005) - 3.5/5

Marche de l'empereur, La (2005)

Good movie. They do a good job of taking a relatively simple story and making it interesting. They don't force any of the cuteness and don't hold back any/much of the tragedy.

The Constant Gardener (2005) - 2/5

The Constant Gardener (2005)

Over-acted, heavy handed propaganda that insults the audiences ability to think.

Movies like this need to take a lesson from "Blood Diamond" about how to get the audience to care about your cause and want what you want.

The cinematography was great and the message is actually very important, but they way they tell it will probably only appeal to those already agreeing with them.

The overheard misunderstandings of the husband tell me they have a long way to go. It's too bad b/c they had a good deal of resources to work with.

Haiku Summary
Brit goes Africa
with new bride on a mission.
She dies, he cares, dies.

North Country (2005) - 3/5

North Country (2005)

This movie was really strong until the last 10-15 mins.

The acting and appearance in general was a bit overdone, but that's kinda how it was back then. :)

The story was pretty good and even better b/c it was inspired/based on a true story.

SPOILERS

The courtroom scene in the last 10-15 mins... they must have run out of money, time and the use of adults in the crew. That scene was so packed w/ cheese and overdramatic courtroom non-sense that I'd have to think Frances McDormand fought the release of the movie. Ouch.