Capsule reviews... 3.2.09
DEATH PROOF - Quentin Tarantino continues to work within his familiar love of violent exploitational cinema, but no one does it quite as well and as effortlessly as Tarantino.
CARS - Exceeded expectations both as a story and a technical accomplishment, and I'm not too much of a fan of those CGI animated features so that says something.
THE HAPPENING - My hope for some sort of M. Night Shyamalan redemption was quickly dashed within the first 15 minutes of this environmental hoo-ha starring an uncomfortably miscast Mark Wahlberg. I still maintain that Mr. Shyamalan is a talented filmmaker, but a talented storyteller? Not so much.
ROB ZOMBIE'S HALLOWEEN - In a sign of truly desperate times, they've attempted to reboot the Halloween franchise by having Rob Zombie pick up the reigns. As a serious fan of the original two Halloween films, I found this very difficult to sit through. I don't want or need to know the Michael Meyer's backstory, and Zombie's over-reliance on graphic violence for shock and horror is repellent.
SOUTHLAND TALES - OK I liked this, but then again I sort of expect to do so after everyone said they hated it. It's undeniably a bit of an incoherent all-star mess, but I always appreciate it when a film is willing to take some risks and go off the deep end a bit.
THE BANK JOB - I'm Jason Statham, and today is the day... I rob a bank... with sideburns. I actually quite enjoyed this loosely-based account of a real bank heist in swinging seventies London with all the twists and turns we've come to expect from films of this genre.
REDS - There are times in REDS that feel so Academy Award approval-seeking, it hurts, but that might just be because it's a masterfully directed and acted epic film, the likes of which we don't see anymore.
ALICE SWEET ALICE - I feel shame that I hadn't seen this before. It's really quite awesomely creepy and twisted! It's also most definitely an American lifted giallo, but when the results are this effective, I'm not one to complain.
KUNG FU PANDA - Again with the CG animation films that exceed expectations! This was (of course) beautifully animated and well voiced, but the filmmakers also exhibit a great understanding of the action genre which makes this an exciting, not to mention hilarious, movie to watch.
KILL BILL - Both volumes, taken in tandem, have their merits. I was aware of this the first time around, but the second time, on bluray, I could enjoy everything without wondering how it was all going to play out. I think there's some weak spots and to call Tarantino "indulgent" is a bit obvious, but on the whole, the two are extremely entertaining and a lot of fun.
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE - Spike Lee doesn't pull any punches against the Bush government for their dismal and incompetent response after Katrina hit, but are we surprised? This certainly hits home just what a travesty the response was and puts a very real face on the tragedy through the locals who survived the hurricane. Having said that, it goes without saying that this one is a bit of a downer.
WANTED - If you enjoy seeing slow motion bullets defying the laws of physics and logic through the magic of modern CGI, then you'll LOVE Wanted. But for those of us that feel exhausted of the CGI action fantasy bullshit that Hollywood churns out these days, who cares...
HELLBOY II - Definitely better than Hellboy 1. Guillermo Del Toro is clearly a film maker who has grown more confident in his voice as a visionary director, and we are all the better off for it.
TROPIC THUNDER - It's disappointing that a movie so desperate to deconstruct Hollwood cliches and racist stereotypes manages to undermine its efforts through some lazy screenwriting. Watching some of the supplemental material, you would think that the actors and people involved were making the most hilarious film ever made. This is not it.
CARS - Exceeded expectations both as a story and a technical accomplishment, and I'm not too much of a fan of those CGI animated features so that says something.
THE HAPPENING - My hope for some sort of M. Night Shyamalan redemption was quickly dashed within the first 15 minutes of this environmental hoo-ha starring an uncomfortably miscast Mark Wahlberg. I still maintain that Mr. Shyamalan is a talented filmmaker, but a talented storyteller? Not so much.
ROB ZOMBIE'S HALLOWEEN - In a sign of truly desperate times, they've attempted to reboot the Halloween franchise by having Rob Zombie pick up the reigns. As a serious fan of the original two Halloween films, I found this very difficult to sit through. I don't want or need to know the Michael Meyer's backstory, and Zombie's over-reliance on graphic violence for shock and horror is repellent.
SOUTHLAND TALES - OK I liked this, but then again I sort of expect to do so after everyone said they hated it. It's undeniably a bit of an incoherent all-star mess, but I always appreciate it when a film is willing to take some risks and go off the deep end a bit.
THE BANK JOB - I'm Jason Statham, and today is the day... I rob a bank... with sideburns. I actually quite enjoyed this loosely-based account of a real bank heist in swinging seventies London with all the twists and turns we've come to expect from films of this genre.
REDS - There are times in REDS that feel so Academy Award approval-seeking, it hurts, but that might just be because it's a masterfully directed and acted epic film, the likes of which we don't see anymore.
ALICE SWEET ALICE - I feel shame that I hadn't seen this before. It's really quite awesomely creepy and twisted! It's also most definitely an American lifted giallo, but when the results are this effective, I'm not one to complain.
KUNG FU PANDA - Again with the CG animation films that exceed expectations! This was (of course) beautifully animated and well voiced, but the filmmakers also exhibit a great understanding of the action genre which makes this an exciting, not to mention hilarious, movie to watch.
KILL BILL - Both volumes, taken in tandem, have their merits. I was aware of this the first time around, but the second time, on bluray, I could enjoy everything without wondering how it was all going to play out. I think there's some weak spots and to call Tarantino "indulgent" is a bit obvious, but on the whole, the two are extremely entertaining and a lot of fun.
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE - Spike Lee doesn't pull any punches against the Bush government for their dismal and incompetent response after Katrina hit, but are we surprised? This certainly hits home just what a travesty the response was and puts a very real face on the tragedy through the locals who survived the hurricane. Having said that, it goes without saying that this one is a bit of a downer.
WANTED - If you enjoy seeing slow motion bullets defying the laws of physics and logic through the magic of modern CGI, then you'll LOVE Wanted. But for those of us that feel exhausted of the CGI action fantasy bullshit that Hollywood churns out these days, who cares...
HELLBOY II - Definitely better than Hellboy 1. Guillermo Del Toro is clearly a film maker who has grown more confident in his voice as a visionary director, and we are all the better off for it.
TROPIC THUNDER - It's disappointing that a movie so desperate to deconstruct Hollwood cliches and racist stereotypes manages to undermine its efforts through some lazy screenwriting. Watching some of the supplemental material, you would think that the actors and people involved were making the most hilarious film ever made. This is not it.
posted by Mugs at 2:25 PM
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