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Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
Wonderful, delightful comedy
I was incredibly anxious to watch this, seeing as it's the only full-out comedy from my favorite director of all-time. I honestly was not expecting it to be as good as it was.
One thing I can say, Alfred Hitchcock had a wonderful sense of humor. The comedy you find in his other films is always delightfully original and true, and the comedy in this film is coming from someone with a wonderful eye for the comedy of life.
Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard are both amazing in this film. Gene Raymond also does well(especially in the drunk scene, one of the funniest scenes I've seen on the subject). There were so many scenes in this movie that just had me laughing out loud. It is generally rare for a movie, unless exceptionally funny, to do that too me.
'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is one of the most pleasant comedies I've seen in a long time. Will be watching this one when I feel like a good laugh.
Alexander (2004)
I really wanted to like it
Despite all the crap I heard of this movie, I had hopes that I would like it. So I eagerly rented it, watched it and tried to like it, but, unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me.
The movie is made as if it's a powerful, captivating movie, but it never gets there. I feel instead of telling a story, they made it a narrative. 'Alexander' really had the potential to be this captivating movie, but it never took flight as one.
The battle scenes aren't very good at all. They seem very static and scattered. Especially compared to the brilliant ones we've seen in recent movies. And the part that was tinted red was just ridiculous. I know it was supposed to mean something, but since I was already making myself watch the rest of the movie, it was annoying.
I am a fan of Colin Farrell, and he does have some really nice moments in this movie. Anthony Hopkins is a pleasure to watch, as always.
I really would have love to seen more on the life of Alexander. It would have been nice if they actually did explore his sexuality more(however, I did see the new director's cut, so it might be more down-toned), because that was Alexander's life. The flashbacks were annoying and unnecessary. The story should have been told in order, letting us into the life of Alexander.
You can feel that everything in this movie has a point. However, the movie doesn't open enough to let us into those points. A movie made with a brilliant feel to, just doesn't reach that point.
Broken Flowers (2005)
A nice attempt, well done
This is a fine movie with some wonderful moments within it. However, it doesn't have enough of those wonderful moments to fully flesh it out. It's a good thing they had those moments though, because they saved the movie for me.
Bill Murray is indeed wonderful and a true pleasure to watch. The few moments that allowed him to go deep within this character were amazing. He deserved more of those moments.
It's great to see Jessica Lange in true form. She plays her part wonderfully, as does the always likable Christopher MacDonald.
All in all, the movie is a nice attempt at being a brilliant movie. But it's "moments" are too far between. The ending which should have been a moment, was a miss for me. It's worth seeing though.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Love this movie!!!
I fell in love with this movie when I was young and still get an incredible urge to watch it quite frequently.
'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' is a wonderful combination of comedy and nostalgia. It brings the monster's everyone knows together and combines them with a pair of comedic geniuses.
I love and never get tired of seeing Lou frightened or put in situations of panic and horror. He has such a naturalness to his behavior, which is plain hysterical.
If you haven't seen this movie, what the heck is wrong with you? You're missing one of the greatest comedies out there.
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Incredible story to watch
Hitchcock has great opportunity to work with what he does best in 'Dial M for Murder'. The opportunities for suspense are endless in this story. The movie audience is let in on all that is going on. However, we don't have a clue throughout the movie how any of it will turn out. There are so many possibilities and very often a twist is thrown at us. It is great to watch Ray Milland react to and deal with each new arrival. He gives a grade A performance. And just when we think there couldn't be any more twists, the final one comes.
I have to say: I always find moments of genius in Hitchcock's films. In this film the shot that was genius to me is as follows. When Margot and Mark are talking in the apartment and they hear Tony at the door, it switches to a shot of the door with their shadows on it, and the shadows quickly separate. I think that shot is a pure Hitchcock moment.
This is a very thrilling movie to watch. I never knew what was going to come at me next.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Entertaining movie, won't disappoint those that want to see it
I got to go to an advance screening of 'Corpse Bride'. The anticipation for the movie was high as the theater audience was clapping and yelling.
I had been afraid this was going to be too reminiscent of 'Nightmare Before Christmas', but it was delightfully original. That is potentially what I enjoyed most about the movie. It's quite an original story.
I commend Burton and all those who worked on this movie. I really enjoy watching the animation, and the characters are all very well developed. It's so good in fact, that I can't imagine this movie being done with real actors.
The songs in this movie are good and enjoyable. I don't enjoy them as much as I did 'Nightmare's', but they do justice.
The voice work in this movie is great. Depp(whose praise I'm not sure will ever stop) did excellent work. I don't think I would've known it was him, that is if I hadn't already. Albert Finney is great, and it's so nice to hear Michael Gough.
My only criticism of this movie is they don't always take enough time. It starts off wonderfully with the wedding rehearsal, introducing us to the characters and the situation. Then Victor takes ends up "running into" the corpse bride, goes to the "underworld", and the whole thing is explained with a song. I was left wanting more when it came to the corpse bride and the underworld. Then the movie continues at a nice level, just that one part left me wanting more.
It's a good movie. If you want to see it you shan't be disappointed. If you don't want to see it, it might be a pleasant surprise.
The Island (2005)
Feels like it should be an episode of a semi-good weekly TV series
From what I've heard, either you love this move, or you hate it. I wouldn't go as far as saying I hated it, but I also couldn't' wait for it to end.
This could have been a very interesting idea to revolve a movie around. That is if the movie wasn't being revolved around action. I really wish they would have dealt with the deepness of the idea of clones discovering they were clones(and all that entails) more. Instead I felt they were writing the movie for the action. The action is quite enjoyable(the car/truck scene on the bridge is very well done), but I enjoy a little more with my movies.
Ewan McGregor is good, not his finest moment, but that's OK. Scarlett Johansson adds a lot of depth to what could have been very vapid. Michael Clarke Duncan shines in his brief appearance, and Steve Buscemi is good as always. Djimon Hounsou(brilliant in Amistad and Gladiator) has been miscast lately(this and Beauty Shop), it wasn't a poor performance, but I'd like to see better for him. The real stand-out of this movie is Ethan Phillips. He was incredible. I hope to see more of him. Also, it was very nice to see the great Mary Pat Gleason.
Many will enjoy this movie. I think I've seen too many great movies to be sucked into generic entertainment. There's nothing wrong with a movie like this. As they say "to each his own".
Suspicion (1941)
An enjoyable, pleasant surprise
I didn't know what 'Suspicion' was about when I sat down to watch it, so it was a pleasant surprise to have this story unveiled before me.
It begins telling a story of love(or obsession if you will). It is one of the finest depictions I have seen of what being in love with someone you've only spent brief time with can do to you. Hitchcock depicts this all-to-common aspect of life beautifully.
The film then delves into the suspicion that forms in Lina's mind. All the time still paying attention to the initial love that gives strength to the movie. Hitchcock, doing what he does best, builds the suspense. Cary Grant plays this character very well, and I know from the beginning that something fishy is going on with him. I found myself sitting forward, wondering what exactly was going to happen. Was he going to kill Beaky? Was he responsible for her father's death? Would he indeed kill Lina? Thanks to Hitchcock, I didn't know, but I knew it very well could happen.
Then came the end. I honestly wish it ended with Grant throwing her out of the car, or at least attempting to. The movie built up too much to that point to settle for this ending. It doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the film. However, the film was very enjoyable throughout that I don't mind it so much.
Mar adentro (2004)
Beautiful film...with a unique naturalness to it
'The Sea Inside' is a remarkably profound movie. It grabs you and sucks you in right at the beginning and keeps you there the rest of the time. It takes you on a journey that shows the beauty of life, the beauty of death, and the beauty of life in death's presence.
The remarkable element of this movie is the relationships it shows between Ramon and each family member/friend. They all relate to his hopes and his struggle differently.
The cast is amazing. Javier Bardem was incredible, and was very well supported by everyone else.
The most powerful scene, that will indeed stay with me are when Javier was leaving his home to go with Rosa. The brief shot of the father sitting by the empty bed was hard hitting to me, and the actors who played his family were especially powerful in this scene.
The movie does a wonderful job of finding the humor in death, and in life for that matter. Sometimes these issues are just way too hard to handle if we can't find the humor.
The writing of the movie is so natural. There are wonderful conversations that are just beautiful to listen to. It's hard with movies that are so powerful to always have a naturalness to them.
Will be buying this movie soon, and watching it again even sooner.
Pet Sematary (1989)
'Pet Sematary' is one of the scariest movies out there
I saw this movie as a child more than ten years ago, and I remember being deathly scared after it. I sat down to watch it again, not expecting it to frighten me as much as it did those many years ago. Much to my surprise, I was scared out of my mind.
'Pet Sematary' is plain and simply frightening. The build up to what will ultimately happen takes you along every step. You relate to the characters, and the situations they ultimately end up in are then understandable or at least relatable.
The kid in this movie, and the use of sound when he's returned is genius. One of the scariest scenes I've seen in a movie.
Fred Gwynne gives a wonderful performance, as can be expected, and Miko Hughes gives an incredibly good performance, especially for how young he is. He is one of the scariest "villains" I've seen, but you can't help but love him.
The movie isn't incredible by every rank, but it does it's job, and it does it very well.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Scariest movie I have ever seen!
OK, I'm a huge fan of horror films and love to get lost in the fright of a movie. For the first hour of 'War of the Worlds', I couldn't move. I'm not even quite sure I was breathing.
The reason this movie is so compelling is it follows a family, and in the midst of the family it runs across humans just like us. This does not depict a battle that is expected, or a battle between different people of this world. This battle is thrown upon the unsuspecting human life. There's no time to prepare. There's hardly even time to think about what is happening before it's too late. The first part of the film depicts what I just spoke of so well.
The film continues along this pace. The scene with the bodies floating down the river is haunting. There are obvious flaws in this movie, that I noticed amidst my enjoyment. However, the movie is so enthralling that I don't care about them.
Tom Cruise(who I'm not always a fan of) has brilliant moments in this movie. He makes excellent choices and deserves a lot of credit for this performance.
Basically, this movie depicts a helpless humanity. It is something of the likes that I have never seen. My advice: don't look for stuff to criticize, put yourself in the place of the characters, imagine how "we" would react to these happenings. The film does an amazing job of allowing you to do this, give in to it.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Good movie, not as impacting as the original
I hate to compare 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' with it's predecessor, but 'Willy Wonka' was such a wonderful movie that it's hard not too.
I enjoyed 'Charlie'. There were some wonderfully funny and wonderfully warm parts. The introduction of Wonka at the factory was potentially my favorite part(the song is still stuck in my head). Freddie Highmore is excellent as Charlie, and the showing of the family relationship he has is really touching. The scenes in the beginning with his family are some of the best(David Kelly is wonderful). Then comes the aforementioned scene of the unveiling of Wonka. Up to this point the movie is very enjoyable. Now arrives the factory tour, which is my only disappointment with the film. It seems very rushed to me, with each scene racing to get to the next child elimination. In 'Willy' they take time to appreciate all the wonders that are the factory. 'Pure Imagination' is deeply missed in this version. They just wizzed by to get to one less child and an Oompa Loompa song(which have nothing on the originals). For how visual Burton is, I'm really surprised at the little amount of time that is dealt to the wonders of the factory. I also felt there was too much focus on what was wrong with the kids, it was just evident in the original and not put under a giant magnifying glass. Also, Charlie and his Grandpa are hardly featured once the factory tour starts, when they really are the most wonderful part.
On Depp's performance, a wonderful performance by a top-of-the-class actor. In watching him, I couldn't even tell I'd seen him in anything else before. I don't think it was entirely the right interpretation of Wonka(but I also was in love with Gene Wilder's performance), but it was an amazing performance nonetheless.
I have to say, the scene with the squirrels is potentially the scariest thing I've ever seen. It jumps ahead of 'Christmas Vacation' for scariest squirrel scene.
The ending of the movie was very disappointing for me. I thought a lot of it was unnecessary and tried too hard to be touching.
All in all, it's a fine movie. It doesn't have the resonance of 'Willy', and I could have lived without it being made, but it is not a waste of a movie.
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
It's about time a really funny movie came along!
I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in a long time. I got to go to an advance screening, and was thrilled because I had been dying to see it. I had tears in my eyes from laughter throughout a lot of the movie. The audience all shared my laughter, and was clapping and yelling throughout most of the movie.
Kudos to Steve Carrell(who I had already been a fan of). He proves in this movie his tremendous talent for comedy. He has a style that I haven't seen before. And Catherine Keener is excellent as always. Thank God there wasn't a cameo from Will Ferrell(love him, but saw him too much this summer).
There were parts of comedic genius in this movie. Partly thanks to Carrell, and partly thanks to the writing(also Carrell). The waxing scene and the speed dater with the "obvious problem" were absolutely hysterical.
I will definitely go see '40 Year Old Virgin' when it's released. My advice: go to see it for huge laughs and an incredibly enjoyable movie on top of it.
Fantastic Four (2005)
Exactly what it should be, a fun movie
Having always been a fan of The Fantastic Four, I have been eagerly awaiting this movie. I became very discouraged with the poor reviews that were coming from all directions, but, naturally, went to see it anyways.
'Fantastic Four' is a fun, enjoyable movie. It's a "comic book movie" that portrays itself as it is, an entertaining story. It has a wonderful blend of comedy and drama. The story line of the Thing is incredibly powerful(partly thanks to a wonderful performance by Michael Chiklis), and the relationships between the heroes are very well played out.
My one criticism with most comic book movies is a lot is compressed into the run of the movie, but it worked pretty well in this movie. They provided us with the need-to-know information and a story.
The element I enjoyed most about the movie was how funny it was. I understand the bad reviews, most movie critics are indeed too critical and can't just appreciate a fun movie. If you are looking for a fun movie, check it out.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Prelude to the achievements of the greatest filmmaker of all-time
'The Man who Knew Too Much' is a finely made film.
It has the right balance of humor and suspense. In fact, some moments of pure genius when it comes to the humor side. And as usual Hitchcock knows just how to build the suspense.
I can sense Hitchcock behind the camera watching as it's filmed, as I can with most of his movies.
This film is a prelude to how great his films to come will be.
Fine acting is within this movie as well.
I found this movie for less than a dollar at Wal-Mart. Definitely worth it.
La marche de l'empereur (2005)
Heartwarming, heartbreaking, beautiful achievement of film
I would generally not have gone to a film like this. However, the word of mouth and advertisements for it convinced me otherwise.
'March of the Penguins' is an inspiring tale of the beauties of life: birth, death, and most importantly love, life, and family. If not for this movie, I would never have known the plight penguins go through for family and love. Who would have ever thought that penguins instinctively experience what we as humans strive for within our own lives. There were moments when I could sense the 'human feeling' within the penguins, especially in moments of loss.
In watching this film, I found myself laughing, almost crying, and generally having a warm feeling within me.
I applaud the filmmakers, for showing the world one of the most wondrous tales I've ever seen.