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!

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."

Todo sobre mi madre (1999) - 3.5/5

Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

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

Weird and powerful. It's a tribute to women, but not one I'd fall in line with.

It's well shot, directed, acted, etc., but I wdn't say I enjoyed it. It's a strong story and has some amazing character development w/ their relationships and such.

I have a hard time enjoying movies that I disagree w/ morally and such.

Haiku Summary
A boy doesn't know
his father. He dies. Mom goes
home. Dad's a tranny.

I Am Legend (2007) - 3.5/5

I Am Legend (2007)

NEXT: Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

I liked it. I think a lot of people expected something different. I only expected what they said it was: a zombie movie. And I thought it was a good zombie movie... which isn't saying too much.

But the action is good, it's cool to see NYC all overgrown, etc. But it doesn't stand up to much scrutiny (what zombie movie does?) in the area of "Why did he do that?" or "Why don't they just..." and all.

SPOILERS
Like I said, there's some inconsistent type stuff in it, but in a zombie movie, who cares. I mean, he's alone for so long and even has to kill his dog and then finally people show up and it's like no big deal - he's just upset she cooked the bacon he was saving... for what!!??!?

Haiku Summary
Everyone's dead or
a zombie except one guy.
Others, serum, dead.

The Omega Man (1971) - 1.5/5

The Omega Man (1971)

NEXT: "I Am Legend" (2007)

Wow, I cd have sworn Charlton Heston cd act. This shows 1971 production in the purest light.

Watching this movie explains why no one has ever said "Oh, you gotta see The Omega Man."

I have to give it a bit of slack b/c of the time since it was made, but man, not the greatest film.

Haiku Summary
Smart zombies want to
kill the last man on earth. He
finds cure, but dies. Cheese.

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.

Môme, La (2007) ("La Vie En Rose") - 4/5

Môme, La (2007)

Marion Cotillard so totally deserved the Oscar for her role here. The story is painful, but interesting. They did a great job telling it and showing us where she was headed. The songs were nice to hear, but it was painful to see her life go the way it did.

Haiku Summary:
Street girl can sing. She's
discovered and makes it big.
Drugs ruin it all.

Next: "American Gangster" (2007)

Drillbit Taylor (2008) - 3/5

Drillbit Taylor (2008)

Pretty funny but I wasn't expecting too much. I really like Owen Wilson's style and the kids were pretty funny being put in those situations. There's not much to it, but it's got some pretty funny parts.

Haiku Summary:
Kids get picked on by
bullies and need bodyguard.
Drillbit's a bad one.

Next: "La Vie en Rose" (2007)

Mr. Brooks (2007) - 0/5

Mr. Brooks (2007)

Wow. Bad. Bad acting, bad direction, bad plot and story point, just bad all around. They lay everything out for you in dialog and completely insult the viewer.

Changes to the story/plot as they went didn't make sense. The logic in their explanations were just bad.

Everyone just phoned in the acting - they must be taking lessons from Costner.

Man, it was really bad. Worst ending pretty much ever on top of it all.

SPOILERS
The daughter was just terrible - that whole story line was bad. And her being a killer??? Oh, so bad. And his crying scene in the kitchen - ouch!

And the dream ending - yow.

And w/ Mr. Smith - who sees this kinda thing and then has the nerve to go to the guy, etc. So bad.

Haiku Summary
He kills. Dumb mistake.
Guy blackmails him to kill too.
Surprise! He kills Smith!

NEXT: "Drillbit Taylor" 2008

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) - 3.5/5

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Good movie and good acting. Casey Affleck is great.

I really like the slow pace and shots, but the story isn't very compelling so I never was really drawn in. Unfortunately, this movie took me a while to watch so it being spread out over a period of time probably hurt it pretty bad.

Haiku Summary
Jesse James is bad.
Bob Ford idolizes him.
Turns and kills him dead.

NEXT: "Mr. Brooks" 2007

Into the Wild (2007) - 3.5/5

Into the Wild (2007)

Nicely shot and not over the top "free spirit" feel. I like the perspective they give on an interesting story w/o hitting you over the head w/ some perceived message derived by Sean Penn to force on the viewer.

SPOILERS
I didn't realize this was based on a true story until the end so that changed a lot. I'm glad I didn't know (so I made this a spoiler). I did think it was a little hypocritical that he didn't want so many 'worldly' things (and even burned his money), but then didn't seem consistent in that: He lived in a bus in 'the wild' and took jobs to get money later, etc. No biggie, but it seemed like a mixed message.

That's not to say I didn't like it. I did. But it was confusing.

I liked how he stuck to his intentions and worked towards them. It's an unfortunate ending and I'm glad they didn't try to spoon feed us any kind of 'message' about it all.

Haiku Summary
Kid goes off to leave
the world. He does it! Mistake
and he dies... happy.

NEXT: "Horton Hears a Who!" (2008)

The Brothers Solomon (2007) - 3.5/5

The Brothers Solomon (2007)

I funny, silly, stupid movie w/ some clever twists on jokes and callbacks. I like the humor though it's not the best made movie. So it's not hilarious or anything, but it's more than I expected and I appreciate the effort in the jokes.

Haiku Summary
Two brothers want to
have baby, give dad reason
to wake from coma.

Next: "Into the Wild" (2007)

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)

Zodiac (2007/I) - 3/5

Zodiac (2007/I)

I had heard good things about this movie so I expected a lot. I also usually like 'based on true story stuff', but this mostly fell short for me.

I didn't buy into the hunt or the passion of those hunting the killer. It felt like a re-enactment of a documentary.

Also, I think they missed out on some great tension and revelation-type scenes w/ the suspects.

Haiku Summary
There's a killer. He
gives coded notes. The guy you
think is him... it's him.

NEXT: "Junebug" 2005

Margot at the Wedding (2007) 2/5

Margot at the Wedding (2007)

Good tone, but a bit too heavy handed trying to force the dysfunctional aspects of lives and relationships. These people seem to be dysfunctional on purpose to the point that they wd have a hard time just staying alive.

Decent performances and decent directing, but there's just no way to tell this story and make it bearable as something you can learn from - b/c it's just too much.

Maybe if there was an aspect of reality somewhere in there to have as a contrast, it might work???

Haiku Summary
Man, everyone is
messed up. Let's put them all
in one place. Messed up.

NEXT: "Zodiac" (2007)

There Will Be Blood (2007) - 4/5

There Will Be Blood (2007)

While I think this movie was really good, I think it might be just a big overrated. That's the problem w/ seeing movies after the hype.

Daniel Day-Lewis was amazing. I'm continually impressed w/ him. The movie was large in scale and I'm glad I saw it on the big screen. The first 15 mins w/o dialog was awesome!

SPOILERS

There was a strong 'hypocritical' sense to this movie in that the characters were forced to sell-out for something they wanted: $. Plainview admitted he was a sinner, needed Jesus and that he abandoned his son in order to secure rights to land for a pipeline.

Ironically, it wasn't his son and he claimed later that he only kept the boy to have a pretty face for making his sales pitch. When the son returned in one scene and Daniel hugged him a lot, I have to believe it only did him good b/c he felt Eli cdn't condemn him anymore???

Eli also sold out and for nothing which was great. The climax of Daniel killing Eli was pretty powerful: he destroyed Eli in every way.

Haiku Summary
Man finds oil and buys
land for more. He squares off with
Eli. There is blood.

NEXT: "Margot at the Wedding (2006)"

Fool's Gold (2008) - 3/5

Fool's Gold (2008)

Light entertainment. There's a story there besides the 'romantic comedy' which helps. It was actually nice to see the scenery and settings like those in the middle of winter.

Haiku Summary:
Bad marriage of gold
diggers. Treasure hunt brings them
back together. Gold.

NEXT: "There Will Be Blood" (2007)

Laberinto del fauno, El (Pan's Labyrinth) (2006) - 3.5/5

Laberinto del fauno, El (2006) (Pan's Labyrinth)

Weird, but interesting. I didn't see the prequel but I listened to a bit of the commentary and it seems they are related by theme.

The visuals are great and the reality mixed w/ fantasy is really good. The gore and brutality of the soldiers is hard to watch at times.

My view of the main theme is something like: people that follow orders (or see things as black and white) are brutal, wrong and evil. Something like that.

SPOILERS

Vidal is set quickly to be someone who doesn't compromise or question what he's doing or why. He has no mercy, pity, conscious or humanity to him. He cares only about being the man his father was and thus passing on the burden to a son of his own.

The rebels are seen as caring, natural and righteous despite not actually communicating their cause other than to kill the military presence. W/o saying how or why, it's clear we're to believe they are right in their attempts to kill the soldiers but not the other way around.

The plot w/ Pan is that he directs the girl, but in her completing the tasks, she breaks some rules. The first time, it hurts her parents, the second time 2 fairies die and the third time, she saves her brother by sacrificing her life, but that was the test of the task: to see if she wd allow her brother to die to save her own life (though it wdn't have saved her life IMO).

So question authority and do what you believe is right despite everything else b/c ultimately that's what's right. Hmmm....

Haiku Summary
Girl moves to country.
Pan's tasks to become princess.
Question author'ty.

NEXT: "Fool's Gold (2008)"