Reviews

What did MOJO mean in the movie? I thought their mascot was the Panthers? Yet, MOJO was mentioned throughout the movie and associated with the football team. SO is MOJO some kind of acronym?

OK, since I need to write at least 10 ten lines I'll talk about the movie a little bit. I thought that it was very good, but far from the best sports movie of all time. I think it is hard to call a movie the best when it is so sad. Yes, I know, the movie was based on reality and reality can be sad, but when you leave the theater with a frown on your face instead of a smile, do you really want to call it the best? I wish we could have learned more about the players, especially Boobie. I almost wish that this was a drama with football in it instead of the other way around. I definitely have to see it again tho before I make any further judgements.

I saw The Village and really liked it. Sure, M. Night Shayamalan is really indulgent when it comes to zooming out or slowly panning this way and that way. But everything in the movie was so atmospheric. Bryce Dallas Howard was pretty good but most of the time she didn't act like she was blind. I think I liked her for that. The last thing we need is for someone to swing their head from side to side and make it ridiculous. Nothing was really boring about it. I was in it the whole way through. Overall, a decent movie. And for all you Shayamalan haters out there, not so much as a surprise ending as there's just something revealed (WHICH MADE EVERYTHING ELSE BETTER!!) 8/10

Just kidding. No, I didn't watch EYES WIDE SHUT on weed but I have seen it many times. It definitely gets better with each repeated viewing. The scenes are so well directed and the pacing is perfect. No wonder it took 15 months to film. One night, I couldn't sleep and EYES WIDE SHUT was on HBO, so I watched the entire movie knowing I had to go to school the next day. I noticed so many things that I didn't notice before. What a grand movie. Really makes you think. You can kiss my butt if you think Tom Cruise is a bad actor and I think this was the start of Nicole Kidman's great roles. She's not just his wife, people. She's an actress. And Kubrick is a fine director. I have yet to see 2001, but I'm working on it.

Alright, I'm not in the FBI, CIA, OCD, NBA, etc. but neither is David Mamet. Frankly, I don't like it when screenwriters just make up stuff that they think someone in that profession would say. Things like "Tell him he heard a man who saw Jesus" and "She just took the long way home" didn't make much sense. Half the dialogue wasn't even cool in this movie. Val Kilmer did a good job, but Mamet's words coming out of Kilmer's mouth were often bad.

Other than that, the movie is fast paced and thrilling. However, if it were a little less confusing, I'd give it a higher grade. Showing off your skills for twists and turns for that sole reason is kinda arrogant and a turn-off, Mamet. That's just what I think he did. I loved Glengarry Glen Ross.

6/10

This movie is awesome. The best thing is the music. Excellent. It's the greatest collection of songs put into a movie. Even better than Pulp Fiction. There should be a BEST COMPILATION Oscar given to a music supervisor. That's hard but in this kick-ass movie, it seems so effortless. The acting is also top-notch. Renee Zellweger, Liv Tyler, Anthony LaPaglia, Robin Tunney, Johnny Whitworth, Max Caulfield, Debi Mazur, and Rory Cochrane, one of the coolest people alive. The script is really good. Directing, also good. Everything was pretty invisible, and I absolutely mean that in a positive way. Just like in the old days, when it was invisible, they put you in the movie. I felt like I was with these characters the whole way. The new "Remix! Special Fan Edition" is probably better. I can't decide. They're both superb.

10/10

Now I'm not a pervert or nothing, but usually when a movie is rated R it goes for the throat. If I had to give this simply average movie a rating, I'd give it "half R", meaning that half the movie had guts and the other half had none. I believe the movie was written by a schizophrenic (however you spell it). Some days, he would be raunchy and uninhibited. He used the great premise to his advantage. And some days, he was a big wussy. He wimped out and made chessy scenes seen in hundreds of other movies (c'mon pal, I saw an ecstacy trip in BAD BOYS II).

Tim Olyphant was the best character, but he dried out near the end. Elisha Cuthbert was sexy. The Tripod (as they're called in the film) were good, too. I just wish this film would've stayed in one direction, you know? First, the girl next door's a former porn star. Great! Wait, now it's about friendship. Okay, but... porn star? Yes? No? Yeah, ex-porn star and friendship. WHAT? Kid from the Orient? Are you kidding? You're not kidding. Oh.

Nothing more to be said than that ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is the best long movie I have ever seen and I have seen a lot of movies. Sergio Leone is the best director that ever lived and the saddest to go.

10/10

I can't even begin to describe the feeling that comes over me by the end of this magnificent film. It truly is a masterpiece and should be referred to whenever great films are being discussed. Sergio Leone is the best to director that ever lived and the saddest to go.

10/10

Like my headline? No, I'm not a critic but thanks for asking. I'll tell you one thing I liked. It's "S.W.A.T." There are many things good about this movie and not just the theme song. (By the way, the person who composed that deserves a seat in music heaven.)

Sure, you can cut out most of the first half and still have a decent movie but that would be wrong (and short, too). The dialogue is stupid and generic but, that complaint left me as soon as I realized how suprisingly smart the film was. I'd take this flick over "Bad Boys II" any day. Simply, it goes in the direction most other action films don't.

8/10. Nicely done.

While the rest of us only went once in the line for brains, Christopher Nolan got seconds. Maybe even thirds. It's unfair if you ask me. The guy is brilliant. His films should be textbook examples for what a smart movie should be. FOLLOWING, his first contribution to cinema, wouldn't let up on the details. Nolan just had to show us what a genius he is, didn't he?

FOLLOWING is a short, black-and-white noir picture. It's about a lonely writer who innocently stalks people. One day, he follows a burglar named Cobb who brings him into his world. The story is all jumbled up but, ultimately, coherent. My favorite example goes like this: Bill takes "the Blonde" to his flat and talks to her. We can tell it's his place from the broken little wooden doll on the dresser. The next scene is a flashback and shows Bill when he was with Cobb (the expert burglar). Bill shows Cobb the apartment without telling Cobb it belongs to him. Bill does this in order to find out what kind of person Cobb thinks Bill is. Cobb said before that he could tell a lot about a person from their stuff. Cobb breaks the doll, which was broken in the scene preceding it. I know this probably doesn't make sense but, Nolan did it perfectly.

To me, not very many directors put as much thought into their films as Christopher Nolan. FOLLOWING has many, many, many ways of keeping your eyes glued to the screen. The last few minutes of it will give you chills. The hairs on your arms will stand up and say, "Who is this fascinating filmmaker?" Christopher Nolan, that's who.

The first BAD BOYS was great. Simple, funny, and (most of all) fast-paced. BAD BOYS II, on the other hand, was confusing, had a few funny moments, and (most of all) l o n g. I got very bored from the story.

Speaking of story, there was just too much. The whole therapy angle was silly. "Woo-sa" this! I bet no one's going to pay $8.50 to see Martin Lawrence and Will Smith deal with their emotional problems like a couple of babies.

Dr. Dre did some music for the movie. This man, while a good rapper, shouldn't be allowed to work on movies. Especially if he's going to put the same redundant baseline in every chance he gets.

Back in 1995, they didn't try to be cool with it. They just did it their own way and it came out great. Here, you get your standard deal of slow-motion shots, unnecessary explosions, and lotsa people shooting. But at what? Most bullets go through walls just for the sake of firing a gun.

I feel the same way about this movie as I did on HULK and TOMB RAIDER. The filmmakers know how to film action but that doesn't mean anything if you throw in a whole bunch of nonsense as your story.

After BAD BOYS II is over, you're going to say, "If it were shorter, it would've been better." You'd be right in saying that. Instead of seeing this pretty typical summer movie, go rent BAD BOYS. Better yet, buy the special edition DVD.

4/10

X2: X-Men United (why the subtitle?) is a pretty good movie. It's got great action sequences, cool special effects, and it cares about its characters. However, I must say that, it was slow. The movie moved like a snail. On the other hand, it was a snail that entertained you for two hours as you watched it go by. I never was bored, I was just tired. Similar to the dentist, you want it to end quicker but know, at the same time, that if it does you won't get your money's worth.

I really want to know how they did it. How did they make a movie, a sequel even, that makes every single other movie (even the good ones) before it look not only bad but ultimately disappointing? Trust me, THE MATRIX RELOADED is probably the best film you will ever see in your entire life thus far. Excuse me for a moment while I collect my tongue and jaw from the floor.

There... Now, there is nothing more to say than you should not be reading this right now. You should be at the theater in line for this movie. When it comes out on video, you should be at the store. TV, on the couch (you get the idea).

The Wachowski Brothers did one thing wrong: They spoil you. Too much eye candy is bad for you. With that said, if you do not like brain cavities, I suggest not seeing THE MATRIX RELOADED. In fact, you should protest against it. Join the wagon that does not appreciate such excellence on the silver screen.

VOTE FOR WEST SIDE STORY!

I finally had some time to see this wonderful movie and I enjoyed it immensely. It's been a long time since I had so much fun watching a motion picture. I was singing, I was dancing, and I was loving every minute of it.

West Side Story takes some pages from Romeo and Juliet and adds its own style, substance, and overall fun. Didn't Shakespeare's play bring you down a bit? Well, West Side Story will have you up! Whether you're a Jet or a Shark; a White or a P.R... It don't matter, baby. You're going to love this movie. It was made over 40 years ago and it still hasn't gotten old. The people involved in production were experts and it definitely shows.

Now, vote an excellent 10 for West Side Story and get it in the Top 250. If you don't, you're just like Officer Krupke. Believe me, you don't want to be like that.

Anyone that doesn't like this movie should have their head examined. It has everything you want in a film. Cars, women, great acting, and an awesome soundtrack. You can't beat it, it's that simple. The racing scenes were ahead of their time, and the soundtrack is so moving that you will always leave this movie with a smile on your face and a soothed soul.

American Pie was a great movie. American Pie 2 is an even better movie. It's the creme de la creme of teen movies. Some might have not like this movie because it's exactly like the first one. Well, it is but it capitalizes with more laughs and more raunchiness in almost every area. Some might not have liked it because of just that: the shameless sex content. Excuse me church-goers but that's how real people their age talk and act.

Everything about this movie is awesome. American Pie 2 is twice as good as the first one.

I first saw "The Royal Tenenbaums" on Monday and, unfortunately, did not like it. The quality of "Bottle Rocket" and "Rushmore" made me expect way too much from Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson's third outing and I felt disappointed. On Tuesday, however, I began thinking about the movie. Not just the dialogue but every part of the film (I'm sure you all remember the graphic paintings on Eli's wall). Then, I started to laugh. I then thought about how each time Royal (Gene Hackman in the hilarious performance) would introduce Margot, he would say, "This is my adopted daughter, Margot." This was some great stuff. Don't forget about Gypsy Cab Co. By Wednesday, I had an appreciation for this movie that I did not have on Monday.

Be warned that this is not your average mainstream comedy. The movie is, at times, uneven, sluggish, overly quirky, and just plain depressing. The trick is to walk into the movie theatre with these thoughts in mind so you can watch for the better moments. The Tenenbaums are screwed up. There's nothing you can do to help them. Put down the first-aid kit and enjoy the movie. The very last scene is probably the funniest ending I have ever seen in my short days.

One thing that the filmmakers forgot to tell us was the time period. What year was it? They dressed like the '70s but I recall Seymour Cassel whipping out a digital beeper with instant messaging. That must have been introduced no more than three years ago. And Richie's hair and beard... what the hell was that? Perhaps that was what they intended to do (A fairy-tale kind of world) so I'll shut up. I just thought I might point that out.

Now that I think about it, "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a pretty good film.

I was up late (as I usually am) channel surfing and come across "This Guy is Falling." Pretty cool pun, huh? Anyways, it was on either Sundance or IFC (can't remember). I liked it. The animation was so impressive. Think about this: Three people are in a car. The guy in the passenger seat looks over and see this button with a label under it. It says: Gravity. DO NOT TOUCH! Well, he presses it and you probably know what happens after that. Except that it all looks really cool. I couldn't believe my eyes. Whoever made this could have a real future in filmmaking.

Movies ARE MADE BY people who like movies so much that they chose a career where they could make movies. Movies ARE FOR people who like movies so much that they spend unreasonable ticket prices at their multiplexes in order to see movies. If you can comprehend what I just said or... IF YOU LIKE MOVIES, you'll like Memento.

Memento is a thinking film that requires multiple viewings (I'm talking at least 20 here, people) in order to fully absorb its genius. A film noir where you can't trust anybody. Nobody! Memento is a movie like no other, which is a great thing. It's told in backwards progression so the beginning is the ending and the ending is the beginning of the movie. Trust me, it works out nicely.

Watching Guy Pearce is a blast. I also think Carrie-Anne Moss is gorgeous and does a fine job as well. The scene which involves some "f-words" on her part always gets me. Joe Pantaliano, as Teddy, has this look about him that really adds to his character. He was my favorite.

I wish I could think of some words to describe the film. Oh, I got 'em. The words are: (in alphabetical order) awesome, brilliant, cool, engrossing, fantastic, first-class, great, incredible, mezmerizing, mindblowing, oscar-calibur, superb, unbelievable, wonderful, and I wish I could think of one that starts with x, y, or z. This is one of the best films I have ever, evah seen. Not seeing it should be a crime.

Christopher Nolan and his brother Johnathan are two talented fellers. They should be given awards and/or large amounts of cash for their accomplishments.

11/10 Get a thesaurus and find some more words to praise this movie.

Right now, Training Day has a rating of 7.2/10.

I, and many others I'm sure, will strongly disagree with that. A 7.2? A seven decimal point two? That number does no justice to the film. No, no, no! Get some more people to go to imdb.com and bring this number up. I thought the movie was great. Yes, Denzel was at his usual best but Ethan Hawke stole the show in my book. Considering his previous movies where he played characters who would have been better portrayed sleeping than speaking (Hamlet, Snow Falling on Cedars, movies I didn't want to see in the first place), Ethan Hawke did a wonderful job as the moral guy. I have a greater respect for him now. And let's not forget Denzel. I'm surprised he doesn't have half a dozen Oscars. But what does the Academy know anyway? If they know anything (which they don't) Training Day will be nominated for Best Picture, ActorS (plural, for both Denzel and Ethan, who should at least get a supporting actor nom), screenplay, and director. That's right. Antione Faqua really showed what he's made of with this film, as opposed to Bait which wasn't so good. I really liked it.

10/10