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Darth_Voorhees
Reviews
Zodiac (2007)
"Zodiac"
Zodiac. David Fincher's thriller about the Zodiac Killer is the best film of 2007. The Hitchcockian thriller is alive and well here. Fincher is a master of generating suspense and he creates a dark world for our characters to inhabit. Zodiac tells the story of how the infamous Zodiac serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco area in the early 70's effected the lives of four men. Jake Gyllenthal plays Robert Graysmith a man who is deeply troubled and somewhat morbidly fascinated by the case. Graysmith is a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle who received letters threatening letters and ciphers which Zodiac claimed to have his identity concealed in. Graysmith takes an interest in the case and as time goes by he becomes obsessed with tracking down the killer to the point where his wife leaves him. The screenplay is smart, it doesn't try to make a Hannibal Lector out of Zodiac. Fincher doesn't try to solve the case he uses the fact that no arrests were made in the Zodiac case to his advantage. Here the pursuit is just as thrilling as coming face to face with the villain. Zodiac also shows how crime can affect the psyche of the people involved. We don't have an over the top CSI approach to police work, we see what really happens with real detectives. The movie has four Academy Award worthy performances . Mark Ruffalo gives an outstanding performance as Dave Toschi the homicide detective assigned to the case. We see how he becomes mentally exhausted by his inability to find the killer. Robert Downey Jr is Paul Avery an eccentric Chronicle reporter who attacks Zodiac in his editorials. The most crucial performance in the movie though comes from Jake Gyllenthal as Graysmith. Graysmith is a character who is foreign to crime scenes that Toschi sees on an everyday basis but he becomes drawn to the case because he feels that someone should bring Zodiac to justice even after the evidence disappears and the case becomes cold. Rarely do we get a thriller as exciting as this. Zodiac is easily one of the best films of the new millennium.
King Kong (2005)
Disappointment
Peter Jackson's King Kong is like a car dragging through mud.In a normal drive you would be at your destination in decent time with some obstacles and you can enjoy your ride but if there are far too many it gets out of hand and you check your watch and get annoyed. The original film is a classic.Denham a greedy film director leads his cast and crew to Skull Island.The island is a place which time forgot filled with fascinating creatures and monsters and the home of Kong. Denham wants to film his picture but naturally it's the depression and producers are hesitant about giving him the cash. Denham quickly hires Ann Darrow and kidnaps his screenwriter Jack Driscoll and sets sail for the island. Through their explorations they encounter monsters of all shapes and sizes and horrific threats.Denham's film is destroyed, he tells the Captain to bring Kong to New York City to be put on stage.People familiar with the story knows how it picks up.I'm expecting thousands of Ringers who haven't even seen the 1933 classic will be hording theaters though so I won't completely spoil it.
There are fine performances all over,anyone doubtful about Jack Black will be plesantly surprised.
Kong looks utterly fantastic.If I were George Lucas I'd all most be half afraid that his toilet paper distributer I.L.M might be in trouble. WETA has created the most realistic special effects ever caught on screen. The movie is visually stunning,and is full of amazing spectacles.WETA deserves to yet again sweep the technical acihevement categories at the Oscars.One of the biggest achievements of the film is how Jackson and his team have perfectly captured Depression era New York.I'd all most want this to be shot in good old grainy Black and White King Kong has a **** star movie trapped and gasping for air in a *** one. I understand why LOTR needed to be as long as it was but there was no reason King Kong had to. Jackson has added too many slow dramatic camera shots,and some sequences run over and over and over.Black and crew get trapped in too many perils.When Adrien Brody goes through a cave to rescue Watts,Bats awake it doesn't scare you,in fact I was saying please don't attack I want to get on with the movie! How many times can the audience stand looking at Naomi Watts looking up at Kong and Kong staring back in wonder for so many minutes.So many of the scenes were unnecessary and belonged in the can.King Kong is a case where I wouldn't mind an hour or so of the movie butchered.Heck Pete you could have saved them for your Extended DVD! ***/****
AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
AVP Review...
A Film like AVP has a lot to live up to... I believe AVP did so. It was meant to be a popcorn movie,If you except this you will enjoy the film and it fulfilled its purpose. True we don't get much character development,and we are plunged into Weyland's Antartic adventure within the first fifteen minutes.The characters when given time,are very good,ala Chuck Weyland,Lex,Sebastian,Miller,and of course Scar the Predator.We care for them.But that is only a select few characters listed above ^^^The plot is okay,An expedition crew,goes to find an Anicent Pyarmid,and gets caught up in the Alien/Predator war.We really only want to see the Predators,and Aliens fight til all hell breaks lose,and we see it.We do get some great battle sequences,and the Predators,and Aliens have never looked finer. We get a decent film,when viewing I didn't care about the PG-13 rating,or the fact Paul WS Anderson was behind the directors chair,I was having a fun time. By no means is AVP the next Alien/Aliens/Predator,but it is a fun film in its own right nonetheless
I give it a 3/4
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Best Super Hero film ever! Spoilers below
Spider-Man was a good movie,great popcorn fun. But Spidey 2 is an excellent film period! The Best of 04 so far! We get a deep plot,we put our hero Peter Parker/Spider-Man through literal hell. He cant get to college on time,he is fired from his job,his friend Harry Osbourne,Son of Green Goblin 1 Norman Osbourner vows to kill him,and cannot tell Mary Jane how he really feels,all because of his alter ego Spider-Man. His Uncle Ben's words echo on..."With great power comes great responsibility",so Pete most carry on. But he finds it impossible to,and eventually quits. Meanwhile a certain Doctor Otto Octavis,Peter' s hero,grafts four claws on to his back,which begin to control the good doctor,and make him go mad. He turns into Spidey's second great villain Doctor Octopus aka Doc Ock. Who most continue his experiment on fusion,even if the fate of New York City is in the balance. Doctor Octopus,and an alcoholic Harry team up to kill Peter/Spidey.The bait Mary Jane. Peter most come to New York,and Mary Jane's rescue.
Spider-Man 2 is superb,has great special effects,and an excellent story to back it up. Has some great moments,as in Peter's dream about his Uncle Ben,or Doc Ock's origin,and bank robbing scene,but my favorite has to be Harry discovering who his Dad really was,and becoming the second Green Goblin.
Excellent film 4/4!
Trigger Happy TV (2000)
Very Very Funny
One night while I was watching Comedy Central this came on. I watched it,and I laughed my ass off. Probably the most I laughed while watching a television show ever. The British are really great when they do comedy. And Dom Jolly is one of the best British comedians since John Cleese. He tricks people,and put's them in rather stupid,and impossible situations. My favorite would have to be the 1,000,000 sex shop customer. Very funny! I recently found out Dom isn't going to be in Comedy Central's second season. I was kind of sad,no new comedian could reach up to his genius.
5/5
Dracula (1993)
Fun little game
The plot is based on Bram Stoker's Dracula. You are Harker,and have to kill off Dracula's henchman. Pretty clever. They have a large bunch of henchman too. My favorite would have to be the skeletons.Even though I beat it a long time ago. Check it out again if you still have it. It rock's,and proves,the The old games will always be the best!
I`m not going to do the number rating because it's a game
Batman Returns (1992)
Great
Batman Returns the game. Is one of the best games based off a movie to date. Great graphics for a SNES game. It can get hard,but it's still a great time-killer. Full of surprises. This game is one of the best. I can't get enough of SNES. They will always be the best!
The Green Mile (1999)
Not like King's novel,but still The Best Picture of 1999
The Green Mile tells the story of a prison guard named Paul Edgecomb. He and his team of likeable guards,except that Son of a B@tch Percy work on death row.When John Coffey(Like the drink only not spelled the same) comes to death row,and meets Edgecomb,they soon become friends,Coffey has a special healing power. And Edgecomb soon realizes he is putting one of God's special creatures to death. Great movie,it tries to stay faithful to King's novel,and is pretty much,but some of it is crazy,I don't really like when they leave out key characters of novels,turned into movies,in this one they left out Old Toot-toot,and Brad Dolan,but it is still a powerful movie
5/5
Batman Returns (1992)
Disturbing but still good
Batman Returns is an okay movie. It is much darker than Part 1,but it is still a great movie. I really enjoy Penguin,though no Jack Nicholson,Devito still does a great job. Keaton performance is altogether good,they give him a bit more screen time. In Part 1,Joker had more. The set's are very good,it added to the darkness. But the film can get disturbing at times. Penguin is a great bad guy,but sometimes he can be a bit too much. For example,when he bites the guy's nose off,or when he attempts to kill the children. BR has a great sense of humor,it pokes fun at it's self. Which adds to the film.
4/5
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
Stupid,and false biography of Chaney Sr
Being a fan of Chaney Jr/Sr,I`ve read countless biographies,went on many websites,well you can see I`ve done my research. Finding out there was a Chaney Sr biography motion picture. I was thrilled,and rented Man of a thousand faces in a second. I watched it,and I didn't know what to think. Chaney Sr was a talented man,but he was a kind man,and they changed the movie,to make it like he was a dark person. And the way they made Chaney Jr in this movie was stupid. And I laughed at the end of the movie,for those who have seen it. You know Chaney Sr on his death bed,he takes his make-up case,and added Jr to it,for his son. Pretty dumb because Chaney Jr didn't even become an actor til 32. And even worse,this film got an oscar nomination for best screenplay. The screenplay is pure garbage! A disgrace to the Chaney name.
0.5/5
The Last Castle (2001)
One of the best films of 2001
This is a classic film work. It is action packed. Robert Redford plays his role,like he is actually The General. He should have gotten a Best Actor nomination. Great performances from supporting cast members. Including TV's James Gandolfini. He plays the role perfectly,you despise him very much. The plot is excellent. With one of the best musical scores I`ve ever heard. This movie is one you actually experience. You are with the prisoners,when they are tortured,and tormented. You are with them when they wage war on Gandolfini and crew. Great film.
5/5
Dracula (1931)
Lugosi steals the show!
Bela Lugosi was a great actor. This is his best work. It was the first of Universal's Monster Madness,one of the best. Dwight Fyre is one of the reasons this film is so great. But Lugosi stare into his eyes,and you meet terror,it creeps you out.No wonder at Lugosi's funeral,a little boy didn't want to go up to his casket. He was scared that Dracula would get him. And I can see why. The plot isn't at all like Stoker's novel,probably the worst adaption ever made. But it still gives loads of scares. Lugosi is one of the best vampires to hit the screen. After 73 years you'd think it wouldn't be so bad,but Lugosi still scares me.
5/5
Rush Hour 2 (2001)
Fast Paced Fun
Rush Hour 2 is very funny. The plot is great. Chris Tucker is so funny in this,some may say he can't shut up,but that's what makes him funny. His main job is to back up Chan,and with that he does a wonderful,job and makes him seem funny. I really like the adventures Chan,and Tucker go through,it brings them from China to America. Really good idea. Fun.
4.5/5
Beethoven's 3rd (2000)
Bad piece of crap
The Newton family decides to take a road trip,but they can't go without Beethoven,and a DVD player which has a DVD with some code or some crap on it. The bad guys plan to kill Beethoven and get the DVD. Which turns the movie dumb to dumber. Bad humor,that only a 4 year old would find funny. Really bad! Stay away from at all costs!
0/5
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
All right,could have been better
This movie is a part of a new breed of action films,The Matrix,Fast,and Furious,Scorpion King. I think all of those movies are good,but when they try to pull of action scenes,it's power packed,what ever happened to the good action movies of the 80's? Lethal Weapon,Aliens,Predator,Running Man,all those great ones,I`m not saying it's bad Jolie gives a great performance,full of great special effects,and fun scenes,and kick ass killer monkeys. Good for your 90's/00's action fan,but I still like action films made in the 80's.
3.5/5
Rush Hour (1998)
One of the best comedies ever made!
The plot is a buddy cop movie,but it gives tons of laughs along the way. Chris Tucker gives a really funny performance. Chan is funny when Tucker backs him up. I really like the jokes,some of the funniest in a comedy ever. Great action scenes that amaze,even though you are supposed to be laughing at Tucker,and Chan. All together excellent. One of the best comedies of the 90's
5/5
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Piece of crap!
The movie was decent in the beginning,but when the Aliens start to take over the ship,and Ripley and Crew have to escape it get's dull,and pretty dumb. The cast is full of stars,I mean Winona Ryder is a great actress. It doesn't scare you like Alien 1,and 2 did. It changes Ellen Ripley's character too much.
SPOILERS....
Can you imagine an Alien/Human,and how dumb that would look. No one in their right mind would do that right,it'd be really dumb wouldn't it? Well they did it,and it ruined The little hope the movie had from being a slightly good movie.
0/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989)
It's a bad movie!
Freddy has completely transformed from an icon of terror,into a Adam Sandler dressed up like a killer. Lisa Wilcox manages to save this movie a bit,with a good performance. But the plot is so dumb! It had a promising idea,but turned bad,in the first half hour. I expected Englund to save it a bit,but he's more like a,as I said before a Adam Sandler. Full of really bad one liners,that get tiresome. But it did have some really good nightmare scenes.I loved the comic book one. Yet the good can't make up for the bad. One last thing the make-up job for Freddy was terrible ruined half the movie for me.
Sadly it sucked,do not rent it,only if you need it to complete the series. Never ever buy it!
0.5/5
The Wolf Man (1941)
One of my personal favorites,and the best of the three Universal Horror Icons
Larry Talbot a young student,has returned from his trip to America. He meets his Father,who is sad over the loss of his brother. He needs help with a telescope. Larry takes a peek into a store's window,and meets beautiful Gwen,a storekeepers daughter who is engaged. Talbot rushes to the store,and they fall in love. They quickly go to a fair,where they meet Bela,and his mother Maleva. Bela is a werewolf,he attacks a girl,and Larry comes to the rescue,but is bitten and becomes a werewolf himself! Really good plot. Lon Chaney gives one of the best performances of his career. Really great! I love it! The best of the three Universal Icons. No wonder Chaney called this role his "Baby". It made him a star. Everyone say's he could never reach his father,but to that I say Ha! Great movie!
6/5
I only give this to movies I truly and deeply love!
Die Another Day (2002)
Good Bond Installment
The plot is "Perfect" one of the best of the series. Full of action scenes. Great characters,and one of the best Bond bad guys,I`ve ever seen. Pierce Brosnan is wonderful as Bond. Great special effects. But it does have some bad acting. Many say Halle Berry is such a great actress,I think she was terrible in this. And it's full of one liners,that get tiresome. But it is great eye candy. Visually stunning.
4.5/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
So bad,it's good
Alright we did not need The Dream Warriors in it. And they were living in Freddy's town,and going to the same High School,When I watched Part 3,I thought they were all across the country. And Joey used to be a sweet boy,and they turned him into a horny teenager. They could have given us a 5 second narration of what happened to them. Because they replaced them,with terrible actors. Lisa Wilcox is the hero of this movie,and steals the show. Freddy is making jokes like crazy. But they are funny. Englund gives another great performance. It has great nightmare scenes,one that stands out is where Alice goes into the diner,and see's an old version of herself. Great scene,I am not a fan of Renny Harlin,I think he makes dumb movies,but he did a good job with this.
3.5/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Close to if not Perfect
Dream Warriors is better than 1,and 2. The plot is perfect. Robert Englund gives the performance of a lifetime. The film is greatly helped by the return of Part 1 cast members. The special effects are great. Chuck Russell is a great director. The plot needs no working on. Freddy does give his little jokes,but it makes it better. His sick sense of humor,makes some laugh,it made me,but I also have a sick sense of humor. You get to know more about Freddy's origin,and motives,which kind of held back the first,and second from being a great movie. This is an excellent example of a great horror movie. Not scary but full of fun.
5/5
A worthy Elm Street episode
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
Left me with mixed feelings
The Plot is great,but it could use some working on. I really liked how they changed Freddy into The Star,in the first one you wanted to know a little bit more about him. "Freddy's Revenge" told us. It get's weird,some of it you are not able to understand. But it's fun nonetheless. It has some dumb scenes,and they changed Freddy's character a bit,not much he's changed into more of a Joker like character. I liked it,but it does get strange,and you don't know what to think. As good as the first
3.5/5
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection (2001)
One of the worst movies I`ve ever seen
The film is about another Tremors attack in Perfection,and paranoid Burt Gummer wants to kill them all. The plot is dumb,even for a direct to video movie. The Tremors look like something on an amusement park ride. The characters are so dumb! Pure Crap!
0/5
Jurassic Park (1993)
What the hell?
This movie is great,but why wouldn't they do it like Michael Crichton's novel. It wouldv'e been better,if they had made it like the novel. It's like Steven Speilberg just took Jurassic Park,and turned it into his own little movie,which is fine,but it wouldv'e been ten times better if they made it like the novel. Of course the special effects are great,and wonderful acting save this movie from being a piece of crap!
3/5