View Date: 1/29/09
This movie starred Bruce Lee and is now considered a classic. Some of the best fighters from around the world are invited to a private island to compete in a martial arts tournament. Lee's character was also told the story of his sister's meeting with the island owner's men several years before.
This movie seemed remarkably cheesy now, although I'm sure it was fairly unique in its time. Also, I kept thinking that this was the original Mortal Kombat. It surprised me how similar the basic storylines are. I watched it because it was a movie people told me I should see, and I was intrigued due to how Lee died. I probably could have lived without seeing this, but now I can say that I have.
10 words or less: Now I can say I've seen it.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Slackers
View Date: 11/14/09
This movie is about a group of guys in college who have the system figured out. That is, until one falls for a girl while stealing a test for one of his friends and slips up. He leaves evidence of who he is, and another student finds it, just not the girl he wanted. That student blackmails the guy and his friends, etc. etc. etc.
I had probably seen this movie before, but it wasn't very memorable. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but I wouldn't say it was a great movie. The cast, however, was fairly surprising. Jason Segal, Laura Prepon, and Jason Schwartzman all joined Devon Sawa and the guy from Pete and Pete (the older Pete). I may watch this again, but I wouldn't purposely seek it out.
10 words or less: The cast is better than the story.
This movie is about a group of guys in college who have the system figured out. That is, until one falls for a girl while stealing a test for one of his friends and slips up. He leaves evidence of who he is, and another student finds it, just not the girl he wanted. That student blackmails the guy and his friends, etc. etc. etc.
I had probably seen this movie before, but it wasn't very memorable. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but I wouldn't say it was a great movie. The cast, however, was fairly surprising. Jason Segal, Laura Prepon, and Jason Schwartzman all joined Devon Sawa and the guy from Pete and Pete (the older Pete). I may watch this again, but I wouldn't purposely seek it out.
10 words or less: The cast is better than the story.
America's Sweethearts
View Date: 11/13/09
This movie is about two actors who made many movies together while also being a couple. To promote their most recent movie, they need to do a press appearance around one year after their breakup. Agents, secretaries, and general movie-makers are involved to make the press appearance happen, which all lead to their own problems.
Amazingly enough, I had never seen this movie, especially with how much I like John Cusack. It was very much like I expected it to be. It was a nice, light rom-com, which is perfect every now and then.
10 words or less: Working on completing the John Cusack collection.
This movie is about two actors who made many movies together while also being a couple. To promote their most recent movie, they need to do a press appearance around one year after their breakup. Agents, secretaries, and general movie-makers are involved to make the press appearance happen, which all lead to their own problems.
Amazingly enough, I had never seen this movie, especially with how much I like John Cusack. It was very much like I expected it to be. It was a nice, light rom-com, which is perfect every now and then.
10 words or less: Working on completing the John Cusack collection.
Mad Money
View Date: 11/13/09
This movie, starring Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, and Diane Keaton, is about three women that work at a federal reserve location that disposes of money. The women are hard on their luck, and Keaton's character comes up with a plan to acquire some of the money selected for destruction. It takes all three of them to make the plan work, and of course hilarity ensues.
This may not have been the most intelligent movie, but it was more fun than I expected. There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, like the scene with Ted Danson shredding money into the toilet and trying to flush it.
10 words or less: Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
This movie, starring Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, and Diane Keaton, is about three women that work at a federal reserve location that disposes of money. The women are hard on their luck, and Keaton's character comes up with a plan to acquire some of the money selected for destruction. It takes all three of them to make the plan work, and of course hilarity ensues.
This may not have been the most intelligent movie, but it was more fun than I expected. There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, like the scene with Ted Danson shredding money into the toilet and trying to flush it.
10 words or less: Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Milk
View Date: 11/13/09
This is a biopic about Harvey Milk, the first out gay man to be elected to public office in the US. This critically acclaimed movie focuses on his rise to and relatively short time in office before being shot by a colleague. Sean Penn not only won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Milk, but also multitudes of awards.
I can totally understand why Penn won so many awards for playing Milk, particularly after seeing some videos of the actual Milk. He was so incredibly dead on when it came to the mannerisms and the vocal inflections. The casting director did an excellent job finding actors who looked remarkably like the actual people they were portraying.
Now, I try to be an open-minded person when it comes to sexual preferences. I have watched countless movies, read all kinds of books, but this movie pushed it to a point I hadn't experienced before. I must admit, he was flamboyant to the point where I was a smidge uncomfortable. The characters were so over the top that the movie almost seemed like a parody. But like I mentioned above, seeing the actual footage of the person helped me understand how dead-on the performances really were.
10 words or less: Totally worthy of the praise it received.
This is a biopic about Harvey Milk, the first out gay man to be elected to public office in the US. This critically acclaimed movie focuses on his rise to and relatively short time in office before being shot by a colleague. Sean Penn not only won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Milk, but also multitudes of awards.
I can totally understand why Penn won so many awards for playing Milk, particularly after seeing some videos of the actual Milk. He was so incredibly dead on when it came to the mannerisms and the vocal inflections. The casting director did an excellent job finding actors who looked remarkably like the actual people they were portraying.
Now, I try to be an open-minded person when it comes to sexual preferences. I have watched countless movies, read all kinds of books, but this movie pushed it to a point I hadn't experienced before. I must admit, he was flamboyant to the point where I was a smidge uncomfortable. The characters were so over the top that the movie almost seemed like a parody. But like I mentioned above, seeing the actual footage of the person helped me understand how dead-on the performances really were.
10 words or less: Totally worthy of the praise it received.
Avatar
View Date: 1/31/10
This movie is about a group of scientists studying native flora, fauna, and sentient beings on a world this is being mined for the government. The other group of aliens to this planet is military. The scientists use avatars, or artificially generated beings linked with an individual’s DNA, to interact with the native species.
Prior to leaving for the new planet, one of the scientists die, leaving behind an identical twin that is ex-military. He takes his brother’s place on the expedition and first acts as security for the science team. On his first endeavor into the forests, he is attacked by a native beast and becomes separated from his group. No one expects him to make it through the night, as the military fears the native creatures, but he is taken in by the Navi, the native sentient species. He winds up learning more about the Navi than anyone had before, and provides details that can both help and harm both the natives and the visitors.
This was a very long, complex movie filled with many themes. It felt that there was some animosity toward the US government expressed through the portrayal of the military as well as the corporate entities represented on the planet. There was also the dichotomy between using nature in a symbiotic manner versus exploiting nature for selfish gains.
Visually, this film was stunning. I saw it in 3D, and I must say it was the best I have ever seen. There was so much 3D, and it was very noticeable. Even the smallest thing, like a spark or a leaf, would jump out at you or look like it was coming from behind you. Really, truly beautiful.
Overall, I thought the movie was good and visually spectacular. It did get a little too preachy at times for me, and it probably could have been shorter.
10 words or less: Movie OK, but visually stunning.
This movie is about a group of scientists studying native flora, fauna, and sentient beings on a world this is being mined for the government. The other group of aliens to this planet is military. The scientists use avatars, or artificially generated beings linked with an individual’s DNA, to interact with the native species.
Prior to leaving for the new planet, one of the scientists die, leaving behind an identical twin that is ex-military. He takes his brother’s place on the expedition and first acts as security for the science team. On his first endeavor into the forests, he is attacked by a native beast and becomes separated from his group. No one expects him to make it through the night, as the military fears the native creatures, but he is taken in by the Navi, the native sentient species. He winds up learning more about the Navi than anyone had before, and provides details that can both help and harm both the natives and the visitors.
This was a very long, complex movie filled with many themes. It felt that there was some animosity toward the US government expressed through the portrayal of the military as well as the corporate entities represented on the planet. There was also the dichotomy between using nature in a symbiotic manner versus exploiting nature for selfish gains.
Visually, this film was stunning. I saw it in 3D, and I must say it was the best I have ever seen. There was so much 3D, and it was very noticeable. Even the smallest thing, like a spark or a leaf, would jump out at you or look like it was coming from behind you. Really, truly beautiful.
Overall, I thought the movie was good and visually spectacular. It did get a little too preachy at times for me, and it probably could have been shorter.
10 words or less: Movie OK, but visually stunning.
9 Songs
View Date: 2/1/10
This movie was listed as a explicit drama on Netflix. Now, normally in this part of my write-ups, I give a brief summary of the movie. But in this case, I’m finding it really hard. The best I can do is say an Englishman has lots of graphic sex with his girlfriend. During the few minutes when they’re not grinding, they’re going to some great concerts. Then there are these pretty random parts about Antarctica thrown in.
So basically, this was porn with a great soundtrack, but it was available on Netflix. You get to see the couple getting it on in all kinds of ways, with some real close-ups. As far as I could tell, nothing was simulated, and they certainly didn’t leave anything to the imagination. There was concert footage of Franz Ferdinand and other similar bands, and songs by these artists that you don’t normally hear.
The parts about Antarctica really didn’t seem to fit in to me. I’m sure it probably had some deep meaning, but I wasn’t really in the mood to try to make sense of it.
Overall, I couldn’t really find a plot to follow, and didn’t really get involved with the characters. I wouldn’t recommend watching this with anyone other than your lover, if you were to even watch it at all.
10 words or less: Art-house porn with a good soundtrack.
This movie was listed as a explicit drama on Netflix. Now, normally in this part of my write-ups, I give a brief summary of the movie. But in this case, I’m finding it really hard. The best I can do is say an Englishman has lots of graphic sex with his girlfriend. During the few minutes when they’re not grinding, they’re going to some great concerts. Then there are these pretty random parts about Antarctica thrown in.
So basically, this was porn with a great soundtrack, but it was available on Netflix. You get to see the couple getting it on in all kinds of ways, with some real close-ups. As far as I could tell, nothing was simulated, and they certainly didn’t leave anything to the imagination. There was concert footage of Franz Ferdinand and other similar bands, and songs by these artists that you don’t normally hear.
The parts about Antarctica really didn’t seem to fit in to me. I’m sure it probably had some deep meaning, but I wasn’t really in the mood to try to make sense of it.
Overall, I couldn’t really find a plot to follow, and didn’t really get involved with the characters. I wouldn’t recommend watching this with anyone other than your lover, if you were to even watch it at all.
10 words or less: Art-house porn with a good soundtrack.
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