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.

Amadeus (1984) - 4/5

Amadeus (1984): "Amadeus (1984)"

Well made and powerful though made in the '80's w/ modern speech that now is actually a distraction.

The story is told from the point of view of Salieri who dispises Mozart and comes to dispise God for giving to Mozart the gift he wants for himself.

Amadeus: In Latin it means "Loved by God."

I like the point he made about God gave him enough talent only to recognize what He had given Mozart.

The X Files (1998) - 3.5/5

The X Files (1998)

It's been too long since I was watching the XFiles to remember how well this fit in w/ the plot of the show. At the time I probably was very close to the show and figured this was too. They tried to market this as being 'stand alone' so anyone cd enjoy it, but I still can't see that too much.

I remember being disappointed at the time, but now I liked the movie. It's not great, but it's a good sci-fi movie, but not just 'sci fi' all over the place all the time - good story and characters.

The ending is a bit abrupt in a sense and maybe a little over dramatic too. But overall I liked it.

Mad Max 2 (1981) - 2.5/5

Mad Max 2 (1981)

Better than the prequel, but only in production value: better sound, stunts, cinematography, etc. But still a weak story... if there is one really.

But again, loved it as a kid. Nostalgia.

Mad Max (1979) - 2/5

Mad Max (1979)

I wd give this movie a 1, but having seen and loved it as a kid, I can't help but give it a mercy point.

More of a horror style movie than action or anything else. The worst soundtrack imaginable... maybe.

This is a typical '70's movie style movie. It was 1979, but it was Australia.

It's bad all around, but I like it b/c of my experience w/ it as a kid.

Fever Pitch (2005) - 3/5

Fever Pitch (2005)

Cute, light, fun movie. Not vulgar or offensive.

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.

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.

Proof (2005) - 3.5/5

Proof (2005)

We saw this play in New York several years ago and really liked it. It's a good story told well.

Somehow I'm not sure it transitioned to the screen as well as the play??? It cd just be whatever you see first is better. Also, the first actors you see do it, seem to be better.

Either way, it was good, but not ground breaking.

What does 'the proof' prove?

SPOILERS:

Her dad's proof proved his insanity and her's her sanity. They both completed at the same time.

Jing wu men (1972) - 3.5/5

Jing wu men (1972)

Good fighting, comical over-dubbing.

What I was most impressed w/ was the story. The complexity of the 'spy' aspect w/in the school was interesting to me - he kills the spies, but if the other school is mad, they admit they had spies. However, if Chen's school doesn't blame them, they look guilty. He forces their had.

The disguises were good, but a bit goofy, but I assume that was the intent.

The ending was a bit sudden and lacking, but that may be the style???

Bottom line, for 1972 in Hong Kong, it was good and w/ Bruce, it was even better.

Starship Troopers (1997) - 1.5/5

Starship Troopers (1997)

Looking for a way to waste $95M on a bad scifi movie w/ worse acting and a slurry of plot holes? TOO LATE! They beat you too it w/ "Starship Troopers."

Just don't see it.

WARNING: Nudity. (Fortunately) it's not much of a 'lust' temptation.

SPOILERS:

Why don't they nuke the planets? Why don't they have tanks? Why can they master interstellar travel, but still use regular bullets that they have proves 100 times over only kill them slower? Why no tanks? Why not more fly-over bombings? Why did 3 people sign-up at the same time end up in such completely different levels of rank so quickly? Why did I watch this?

Closer (2004) - 1.5/5

Closer (2004)

While I feel I can say this movie was 'well done', there's not much here worth seeing.

The time device they use is interesting and the characters and dialogue are very intense.

It seems most of the characters are bent on being honest w/ each other which ironically gets them in more trouble most of the time.

Very vulgar.

SPOILERS:

The time device - it seems they mostly only show scenes revolving around the start or end or both of relationships w/ little signs (sometimes comments) about how much time has past.

Did "Alice Ayres" 'die' to save someone's life? Did Jane Jones give up her life to save Dan or someone else?

Her line was great near the end when she was telling Dan she didn't love him anymore. Something like "I can't lie to you and I can't love you anymore." She cd love him as long as he her lie to him. When he forced the all-important honesty, it was over.

They don't know what they want, they want what they can't have, they want what people tell them they want - no committment, no change, nothing learned. We're animals.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) - 3.5/5

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Good zombie movie. Probably my fav zombie movie. Funny and 'light-hearted' and well made.

Cleverly wrapped drama, love story w/in a zombie story. Shaun is dealing w/ issues w/ his roommates, girlfriend, parents and job all while fighting those returning from the dead.

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.

Batman Begins (2005) - 3.5/5

Batman Begins (2005) Good action, good characters and mostly good acting.

Lots of big names.

Mainly I think they did themselves (and us) a favor by not making it a typical "superhero movie."

SPOILERS:

I think the only thing they didn't do well was establish the villian. First it was Chill, then Falcone, then Crane, then Earle, then Ghul.

And I don't mean to get technical, but a microwave emitter strong enough to vaporize the city's water supply wd boil people alive at the same time.

So I guess Dr. Crane was also "The Scarecrow" - maybe that was another Batman villian like The Joker, etc. Not sure??? However, they did a decent job of making *that* villian not too comic-book which fit the movie well. However, it was a bit goofy w/ him and the mask and all. At first, I thought it was a gas-mask of sorts b/c of the drug he sprayed, but I think it was just a sack. The bad part is how he was handled by the female lead. Weak.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) - 1/5

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Some interesting evidence and views, but all circumstantial. He condemns some (Bush, Republicans, etc.) by association, but doesn't do the same to others (or even the convicted).

Bottom line, it's a video essay - far from a documentary.

Vernon, Florida (1981) - 3/5

Vernon, Florida (1981)

They certainly did their job of making a documentary. They stayed out of the way as far as you can tell. However, if you look hard (maybe too hard), they might be doing something...

They basically establish the town's residents as ignorant and backwards for the most part. I'm not saying they manipulated it, these people are what they are.

But then well into it, they have a pretty long segment on them sharing their religious beliefs - I can't help but think that it is saying "dumb, backwards people are religious." Again, I may be looking too hard.

Either way, I have to say their religious thoughts are pretty good. I especially liked the sermon which I was happy they showed so much of.

It has some comical points, but at the same time you feel guilty thinking it's funny.

SPOILERS:

The "balls of brain" (writing "cat sh**" and "dog sh**" w/ each hand) and the "gopher" were two of the best parts.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004) - 5/5

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

I think this movie is great b/c they didn't have a budget. W/ money, they probably wd have ruined it.

Forrest Gump (1994) - 5/5

Forrest Gump (1994)

Good all around. What can I say?

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) - 3.5/5

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Fairy tale. Good imagery. Creative and original. Jim Carrey is spot-on as all characters.