I had seen so many movie in the year 2010..some of them are: The Expendables Inception The knight and Day The A-Team Iron Man 2 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time...
The Brothers Bloom It started off so great. The cast is really excellent even though the story is kind of cliche. Sadly, it loses steam in the last hour or so, but it's worth a watch.
The Happening: A potentially haunting film ruined by spectacularly inept execution: D. Inception: Noticeably compromised by Christopher Nolan's recent promotion to blockbuster status, Inception nevertheless manages to keep its head above water on the strength of its tortured protagonist: B.
Frozen: A trio of jerky a**holes literally talk their way into their frosty doom at a ski resort. I had no sympathy for any of the characters as they tried so hard to be hip and cool and whatnot. The whole situation could have been avoided, honestly. Since I am a snowboarder, I thought it would be the kind of movie that would put me off from going up on the chair lift, but... yeah, it didn't, because I wouldn't have done what the characters did. Grade D and only because the wolves were cute.
70. The American (B+) 71. The Kids Are All Right (B+) 72. The English Patient (A-) 1996's Best Picture winner is an adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's 1992 novel, which was the first Canadian novel to win the Booker Prize (as well as the first of three Governor General's Awards for Ondaatje); since I'm reading all the Canadian Booker winners, I decided to watch the film. Overall, I'd put this on the list of films that I liked more than the books they're adapted from. The screenplay by the late Anthony Minghella (also the director) corrects some of the problems I had with the novel by providing some dramatic impetus to the question of who the English Patient is by the changes to Caravaggio's backstory (in the novel, there's really no reason that anyone should care who he is, and nothing would have changed if they'd never found out who he was). I think the theme of transcending nationalities and such is also better conveyed. They've shifted the focus from Hana and Kip to Almacy and Katharine, which works fine (though it was Juliette Binoche who won the Oscar anyway; I guess the Canadians in Hollywood were too busy playing Americans, so they had to recruit a Frenchwoman and an American to play Hana and Carvaggio). Minghella also cuts out the unhappy ending to Hana and Kip's relationship, which I'm sure some people think is Hollywoodized, but I'm fine with, because I thought their breakup in the novel was unconvincing (like Ondaatje suddenly realized that the story was almost over and if things ended well it wouldn't be "art"). On the demerit scale, the charge that it's long and ponderous has a bit of merit; and I think the character of Geoffrey Clifton really needed more time than the story gives him, given how important his actions are toward the climax. Still, I think it's a very solid film.
Got Clash of the Titans(2010) at Blockbusters 1/2 off previously viewed movies sale for Labor Day weekend for $7. It's a nice different take on the cheeky 80's film. Sam Worthington and Gemma Arterton really make the movie + the Medusa sequence is great imo. Since a sequel was just announced I'm very curious to see where they go. There are unused elements from the first film they could use like the Shield & Helmet gifts from the Greek Gods. That aside all of Greek mythology is really at their disposal to play with.
196. 25th Hour [B ] 25th Hour: A few critics, including Roger Ebert, chose to place this Spike Lee "joint," as it were, as one of the top 10 films of the decade. To be honest, I don't see it. Norton's performance is terrific, as are Brian Cox, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The direction, cinematography, music, and editing are all fine (the use of jump cuts incorporating multiple takes might be off-putting to some, but I don't mind the stylistic flourishes). But what prevents this from being equal to Lee's best work (Do The Right Thing) is the utter obtrusiveness of 9/11 imagery into the narrative. Every time Lee interjects with that stuff (the main title sequence showcasing the temporary memorial at night, a long take with Pepper and Hoffman overlooking ground zero, a short conversation that touches on the firefighters killed in the attack) it feels exactly like what it is: a tangent that has been dropped into this story (indeed, the novel in which the film is based was published before 9/11 even happened). There are a few other moments that set the film back. A long subplot with Hoffman (and Anna Paquin) overwhelms the central story for a bit too long--some more careful editing here could have easily brought the film in at or under two hours. A long fantasy sequence at the end of the film begins with several shots of the citizens of New York smiling at Norton as he drives out of the city. The point is made, but it's hard not to laugh at this endless montage of people with dopey smiles on their faces, especially when it's punctuated with a sentimental bit between Norton and a child. The end result is a film that is good, but not great, entry in Lee's filmography. He's easily one of the ten best directors still working in the United States, but it's a shame that he hasn't had more opportunities to direct feature films in the past ten years. A film like 25th Hour would probably be a minor entry, and not elevated to higher status, if studios would give him the chance.
Law Abiding Citized [B-] Some great performances that are ruined by suspension of disbelief. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone, but it's stupid.
I completely forgot that I went to see Prince of Persia at the cinema! It was stupid, noisy and somewhat ridiculous...and lots of fun. I'm kind of in a place where dark and gritty and realistic bore me and big and stupid and noisy and juvenile entertain me a lot. It'll turn around again around Christmas.
I saw Prince of Persia also and am unsure why it didn't find an audience. The plot was fine for what the film was advertised as. There were no glaring plot holes that distracted. The action was what one would expect from a summer film. Gemma has the eye candy in spades. While it had a horrid USdomestic box office of only $90m it's worldwide total isn't shabby at all standing at $329.5m to date. Disney isn't likely to lose any money on this film but they have to be dissapointed the US audience didn't show up. Is it possible all the fuss over Jake as the Prince here in the US had people not going when overseas they obviously didn't share the hatred in casting?
197. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II [D] The one-liners aren't as funny nor as often. The action, what little there is to speak of, is solely played for laughs, but it elicits more groans. The puppetry effects aren't as effective, especially with the film's new creations. The cast isn't as good (Casey Jones is gone, April has been re-cast, and two of the Turtles have different voices). The lighting is a lot brighter (even at night), which offers no help for the film's atmosphere. Like most sequels, a lot of the same plot points are re-hashed from the first film. There's a terrible musical sequence with Vanilla Ice (remember him?) offering us the spectacle of classically-trained actor David Warner dancing to "Go Ninjas, Go Ninjas, Go!" And it's all over in barely more than 80 minutes. At times, it offers some childish amusement (I can see why it appealed to me when I was 7), but it's hard not to see it for what it is now: a quick and cheap cash-in off the back of the first film's success. My roommate doesn't even have the third movie on DVD, so I doubt I'll be seeing it anytime soon. Probably best to leave it to my vague memories of childhood, from what I've read about it online...
So far this year in the theater I have only seen Shutter Island Iron Man 2 Kick Ass Machete The last two of these being by far the more entertaining.
I've seen Simpson the movie yesterday. For the second time. The right thing for a after-work-chill-out on the couch. The last movies I've watched in the cinema where Inception and the A-team.
Pirate Radio (The Boat That Rocked) [C] A lot of great actors with a terrible script. This is becoming a trend. I loved the soundtrack and Talulah Riley, though. She is absolutely stunning.
I finally got around to seeing Avatar. Wow. Talk about a disappointment. I mean, I wasn't expecting all that much, but with all the hype I was expecting more than that. Sure, visually it could be quite stunning at times, but the dialogue was just so awful most of the time that it was almost unbearable. Lines like "You're not in Kansas anymore" were a dime a dozen, and went on for 2 hours and 42 minutes. Ouch. The "chosen one" saving the oppressed people wasn't all that original either. I also found the casting less than inspired, although the chick chopper pilot was super badass and hot. I'll give it 2/5 on Netflix.
+1 Is it the worst movie ever, no. It sure isn't a cinematic second coming like it was touted though either.
198. The Sixth Sense [B+] 199. Heat [A-] The Sixth Sense: A lot of people dump on M. Night Shyamalan, and for good reason. His last tolerable film was probably Signs, and it still ends with an absurd twist that undermines any believability the movie had established. But going back to his first feature (at least, the first with a wide release, and the most famous) it's easier to see why studios keep throwing money at him. Here he takes a simple premise (a kid can see the ghosts and a psychologist who has suffered personal and professional trauma tries to help him) and runs with it. Willis' performance is restrained and muted--perfect for the material--but it's Haley Joel Osment who steals the show. Usually, child actors are terrible, but Osment demonstrates more craft than some adult actors can lay claim to, and he does it during sustained takes. The most emotional scene, frankly, is not when Willis uncovers the film's infamous twist, but in the scene before when Cole (Osment) tells his secret to his mother for the first time. It's a quiet little film from a young writer/director that shows a lot of promise. Alas, I think Shyamalan took the wrong cues from his critics, and spent most of his later films replicating the twist ending instead of the emotional core that makes it most watchable. If I had any complaint, it would be the heavy-hand Shyamalan uses to convey certain plot points at times (he pounds the bit where Willis listens to the tape of his past subject into the audience, well past what is needed). But it's still a solid film that sets a terrific mood. Heat: Heat is either one subplot too heavy or an hour too short (and it already clocks in at 160 minutes), but that doesn't bother me all that much. Pacino and DeNiro are terrific, and the supporting cast is filled with actors of similar talent in roles of all sizes. The cinematography, the editing, and the sparse musical score are just perfect. Perhaps one day a longer version will be released, but if not, this version will due. It's a great, if not perfect, crime thriller.
I saw The American. What a great movie. The tension in the last ten minutes or so is so palpable. It really does take its time and I love how so much suspense is generated by so much quiet silence. George Clooney delivers a real restrained performance and the cinematography is stunningly gorgeous. A really understated thriller.
I just saw The Fountain with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. I like both actors and have enjoyed other films from director Darren Aronofsky but this movie is bad. Where do I go to get my 1.5hrs of time back?
So far this year I've seen: The Book of Eli The Most Dangerous Man in America My Name Is Khan Shutter Island The Ghost Writer Defendor Alice in Wonderland Brooklyn's Finest The Runaways Chloe Greenberg The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo City Island The Joneses Please Give Iron Man 2 Robin Hood The A-Team Winter's Bone Toy Story 3 Jonah Hex The Kids Are All Right Inception The Expendables Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Machete For the remainder of the year, I'm looking forward to: The Town Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Buried Howl Casino Jack (not the documentary Casino Jack and the United States of Money, though I want to see that as well) The Social Network Stone The Company Men 127 Hours Black Swan Tron Legacy True Grit