Change Your Image
porazzim42
Reviews
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008)
Totally Insulting
I have been trying to like this show since it came out but I simply cannot do it. This show trys to depict how high school really is, and as a teenager, I find this show insulting. Yes, some teenagers have sex and get pregnate, but not every sentence is about who's doing who, when they do it, why their doing it, who wants to be doing it...come on. Every line in this show is about sex. And that is completely inaccurate.
The character of Amy is also unreasonable and irritating...she always seems on the verge of tears...why Ben loves her I don't know. Her mother is useless and is too wrapped up her own sex life. The only character I can stomach is Adrian because she is not as fake as everyone else and I especially can't stand Grace. The whole episode when she thought she killed her father because she had sex was so ridiculous I was laughing. I hope people don't think this is how teenagers really are.
Se7en (1995)
Questions Morality
This movie was flat-out amazing. It was gripping, fascinating, and not only that but it makes you question your own morality. Brad Pitt plays David Mills, a young detective who thinks he knows it all. Morgan Freeman plays the seasoned detective who knows the way of the world. These two unalike people are thrust together when a series of murders, that are taking after the 7 sins, take place. What occurs next is a series of gruesome murders that people who have a weak stomach probably shouldn't see. I'll give one example...the "eat till he burst guy". Pretty revolting.
The two actors are amazing, as they usually are. But the real gem of the movie is Kevin Spacey, although he didn't show up until the end. Mills is convinced, as most normal people would be, that John Doe, the killer, is just "crazy". But as the movie progresses and then you finally hear from the killer at the end, he is more than that. He really isn't "crazy" per say. He knows what he's doing and he's quite good at it. He is evil and yet he thinks he's doing this world a favor by killing some of the scum of the face of this planet. As I watched the scene in which Spacey describes the people he killed, I had a fleeting moment in which I thought, well maybe he was.
And that's what this movie wanted you to think. But this guy was pure evil...the definition of a psychopath. The end of the movie is both shocking and angering. Now I'm not going to give away the ending to those who haven't seen it, but for those who have seen it, would you have done what Brad Pitt did? Thjis movie doesn't have a happy ending or leave you with all the answers. It leaves you something to discuss and think about. That's why this movie is amazing.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
An Under-rated Gem
Wow...this was one of the most powerful and emotionally gripping movies I have ever seen. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Gilbert, played marvelously by Johnny Depp. This is a story that most of us can relate to. Gilbert feels trapped in the small town of Endora and doesn't know how he can leave. He has been thrown responsibilities and obligations that he wasn't ready to have. After the death of his father, he is the man of the family, forced to care for his very obese mother, 2 sisters, and his mentally handicapped younger brother Arnie. Due to his mothers health, he is basically the parent of Arnie.
He is frustrated and he tries to numb himself from feeling anything at all. He tries to make himself a robot and has almost succeeded until the arrival of Becky. Becky inspires Gilbert to open up his heart...he heart he had closed off for quite some time. She shows him how to open his eyes and see...truly see.
The performances were amazing...Leonardo DiCaprio is nothing short of spectacular. Darlene Cates gives a truly heart-breaking performance as Mama. My favorite line in this film, which I feel is the theme, is when Gilbert says, "We can go anywhere...if we want."
Blow (2001)
Very Good
This was an absolutely astonishing film with a sensational performance by Johnny Depp. This movie tells the true story of "Boston George", a marijuana and cocaine dealer. I especially liked it because it didn't make it obvious that they were painting George as a hero...because they weren't. It allowed the audience to form their own opinions about Jung. My feelings for George changed over time. At first, I despised him for all the heartbreak he caused his daughter...all those broken promises he made to her and all the times he made her cry. I identify a lot with Kristina and that made it difficult to like him.
I still don't necessarily like him, but I do not hate him anymore. He for the most part confuses me. He was given so many chances, and yet he still went back to drugs, knowing there was always a possibility of getting caught. But the final jail sentence at the end of the movie, in my opinion, is very unfair. It is much too long for the crime he committed.
Now I realize that George is human...he is not perfect nor had he ever pretended to be. He made a considerable amount of mistakes in his life and now he is paying with his freedom.
Hatching Pete (2009)
Give me a break!
Oh, you've got to be kidding me! What is the world is up with Disney? Remember when Disney was responsible for classics such as Tarzan, Mulan and The Little Mermaid. And now we have these ridiculous TV shows that should be insulting to kids such as Jonas and Phineous and Ferb and movies about a boy finding his confidence in a chicken suit!! C'mon!!
I can't even believe the actors, if you can call them actors, can talk about this movie with a straight face. And by the way, Mitchell Musso looks like a bird himself!!!
I can't even believe people watch this junk!! I would have rated this a zero, but the choice was unavailable.
The Reader (2008)
A Bit Odd
Okay, if I were the Academy Awards, I would have given Kate Winslet the Oscar for Revolutionary Road. She was compelling and she showed all different kinds of emotions and she refused to let her character get one-sided. But in this movie, all she does, is screw, bath, bath, screw, read-to-me then we screw...I was waiting for something to happen because I knew the second half HAD GOT to be better.
But, alas, it was not. Throughout the course of the movie, it was made plain that Hanna could not read or write. That is why she had Micheal read to her. But during the court scene, when the other Nazi's blamed the writing of the report on Hanna and the judge puts a notepad in front of her, instead of saying she can't read or write, she takes the blame. Okay, you'll be going to jail for almost half of your life but no one will know she can't read or write. I mean come on!!! How stupid can you be. She was on trail for MURDER!!!!!!!!!
The judge probably wouldn't have believed her but still...she would have said something and that would have made this movie a little bit more interesting. But no, instead of saying she couldn't read, she went to jail for about 20 year while the rest of them got 4.
Titanic (1997)
Beautiful
I absolutely adore this movie and it is one of my favorites of all time. Of course, so many people love to despise this film because of it's major success. And a lot of people don't want to admit that they actually enjoyed it. But, alas, I am certainly not one of those people.
I thought the movie was a beautiful testament to the power of true love. And for those of you that thought this love story was corny, fake, or unreal, than you obviously haven't yet experienced the feeling. Leonardo DiCaprio, in the role that made him super-famous, was fantastic, even though it was not the best role in either of the main actors career. Kate and Leo are absolutely my favorite actors. The supporting cast did an excellent job, especially Billy Zane and the fabulous Kathy Bates.
Oh, and one more thing...I wish that people would stop with the age-stereotypes on this film. So many people say that only teenage girls would like this "crappy" movie. I'm sorry, but that is untrue. When you say that, it is like you are saying that teenage girls are immature and only went to see this because of Leo. I take offense to that. Age is a number, not what determines whether of not you like a film. I am a teenage girl, but if you have read any of my comments, you'd realize that I am most certainly not immature. So stop generalizing, okay.
Little Children (2006)
Unecissary Narration
Okay, I am a MAJOR fan of Kate Winslet and I've seen a good majority of her films. I watched this one and I though it was okay...not great, but good. The storyline was gripping, the acting was superb...sounds like a real winner. But then comes the narration!!!
When I first saw that I was like, "What the heck?" Okay, I can see and I can hear and I can understand what's going on. I felt like I was being read aloud to and it annoyed me tremendously. If there was no narration, I would have rated it a 9.5, but to be frank, it nearly ruined it for me. But Kate and the others did very well with their parts and Jackie Earl Haylie was mesmerizing.
Hounddog (2007)
Not the greatest
Okay, this is definitely not the greatest film ever made, but it was still a good movie. I didn't find it to be boring...no actually, I was quite involved throughout the movie. Dakota Fanning is hands down one of THE best actresses i've ever seen. Her age doesn't have anything to do with the fact that she has so much range and versatility...something that a lot of older actresses lack.
This movie was about a young girl trying to find who she really is and what makes her her. Everything is new to her and she's just trying to grow up in a world that isn't always easy. She's been dealt a hard hand in life and she finds solace in the music. I thought it was a decent movie...however the only thing memorable is Dakota.
Sleepers (1996)
Brad Renfro Shines
I first watched this movie when I was 12 and it was so powerful and gripping that the images stayed with me for months and months before I viewed it again. I at the time was in love with Brad Pitt so I got this movie, and I had no idea what it was about. It was horrific, scary, and yet I loved the movie. It is one of my favorites. It was a dream cast and they all did excellent. However, the young boys stole the show from all of the others.
Geoff Wigdor, Joe Perrino, Jonathon Tucker and the late but greatly missed Brad Renfro conveyed the innocence of youth and excellently portrayed that innocence being lost. Kevin Bacon was chilling as always and did a marvelous job as Nokes. Jason Patric, Brad Pitt, Billy Crudup, and Ron Eldard were good, but did not come to par with the performance of the actors playing their younger selves. DeNiro was fantastic, playing Father Bobby as only he can.
My favorite scene was when the boys were sitting around the table and were talking about what they wanted when the left Wilkonsin. "The truth stays with us"...uh, Brad Renfro was amazing.
The movie made me track down the book and that has become my favorite book of all time. This movie shows not only the horrors of child abuse but the power of friendship. Watch it!!!!!!!
Joan of Arc (1999)
Pretty Good
I just finished watching this movie with my history class and we all enjoyed it. The acting was pretty good, but there were scenes when I felt that the young actress playing Joan could be doing so much better. She was okay and did a phenomenal job in some scenes but in others, she fell completely flat.
Neal Patrick Harris was amazing as the king, and to be perfectly honest, I never thought he had it in him. when I saw his name in the credits I was like, "Oh, boy," but he was really good.
Peter O'Toole was...well, he was Peter O'Toole. He was the real gem of the picture. Playing the role of the conflicted bishop, his performance was by far the strongest.
The movie is rather long but I think it is well worth the watch.
Marvin's Room (1996)
An Underrated Gem
I happen to rank this movie as one of Leo's finest. It is definitely not as main-stream as his others, but the content and the acting was brilliant. I am a sucker for movies about dysfunctional families and this one takes the cake. It was so human...there was nothing "Hollywood" about this at all.
Each character has their own emotional turmoil and when Lee comes down with Hank and Charlie, the characters are forced to come to terms with it. Leo delivered a stand-out performance in a cast of film legends. Meryl Streep is also wonderful as Lee, the self-centered mom who left her family behind in search of her own dreams.
Finding Neverland (2004)
Unbelievable
This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is a poignant masterpiece about love, loss, and the rebirth of family. It is kids movie, but it a movie for all ages. It was not stupid or insulting to the intelligence by any means.
Johnny Depp, as usual, is absolutely fantastic as Barrie. His boyish face and wonderfully open persona gave him the child-like quality his character needed. Kate Winslet, my personal favorite actress, is excellent as Sylvia. She showed the pain of the loss of her husband and you could feel the weight of the world on her shoulders as she struggles to raise her boys.
I thought i was great that this movie was a love story, but their was no kissing or sex..it was not needed. When Sylvia felt herself shutting down emotionally and due to her illness, Barrie comes and turns her world upside down and shows her and her boys that it was possible to love again.
The Astronaut's Wife (1999)
An Intelligent Thriller
I'm not usually into sci-fies, and I'll admit I only wanted to watch this one because of Johnny Depp, I actually liked this one. I happen to believe that there is life outside of Earth and this movie personified what I believe. I don't think that aliens are ugly, menacing green martians...I mean, what is an "alien" anyway? What does it look like? How do we know that they don't look like us?
When it is revealed towards the end that Johnny was an alien, it made me think about aliens inhabiting our own bodies. How do we know that there isn't an alien inside us every time we do something completely out of character? Scientists and other people think that they HAVE to figure out the truth about aliens in their need to control everything on Earth and OUTSIDE Earth. But the truth is, we don't know for sure and that's why I liked this movie. It showed us a different take on aliens.
The acting is excellent,and although the ending was pretty weak, it was still a good movie.
Don Juan DeMarco (1994)
Beautiful
I love this movie sooo much. It's funny, charming, romantic...everything you want in a movie. It's not meant to be taken too seriously...it's good romantic fun. This movie shows you that it's okay to be a little different and see things a different way, just live your life to the fullest and see yourself as a beautiful person. Isn't that basically what Don Juan told Dr. Mickler...how he sees women for who they truly are, not on their imperfections.
My science teacher, who is is a Vietnam vet and an ex cop, reminded me of Dr. Mickler so I gave it to him to watch. And even HE liked it. My boyfriend loved it. It's a movie for all ages and all types of people. But I would recommend watching this with your boyfriend...some of the things Johnny Depp says make shivers go down your spine and it causes romantic moments...if you know what I'm saying.
John Q (2002)
A father's quest
Denzel Washington, in my opinion, is the best actor in Hollywood. This movie is another example of his range and versatility. This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. There were four points n the movie where I cried. I cried when the parents were told about Mike's heart, I cried when he talked to his on on the phone, I cried when he was saying goodbye, and I cried as he drove away.
This movie shows us where we as people are coming to. His son needed a heart transplant, but the hospitals said no, they couldn't do it, because they didn't have the money. A little boy almost died because of our greed. And that isn't just Hollywood hogwash; that happens everyday. We have people ripping off other people, people murdering one another, all for greed. Where is this world coming to?
I've read some comments on this movies message board of people calling John Q. selfish. Maybe you guys were watching a different movie than I was because he wasn't selfish.
Can any of us imagine what it's like to know that our child is dying and yet we are powerless?
The Great Debaters (2007)
Your Righeous Mind
Finally, movie made to show the world that you can overcome many obstacles in life by having a brain. I am in high school, and I see so many kids throwing their life away, doing stupid things. A lot of my friends get C's, D's and F's and justify it by saying that nobody cares about your grades if you're not going to college anyway. They don't understand how easy it is to throw your life away. All it takes is one wrong choice.
This movie proves that being dumb only hurts you and being stupid isn't cool. Sure, this movie took place in the 30's but it still rings true today. You don't get anywhere being stupid. Our ancestors worked so hard to give us all the opportunities we young people have today. And now we take it for granted because it's always been available for us.
This movie takes place in a time where African Americans didn't have many equal opportunities. We take for granted that we can ALL go to school...they couldn't. They lived in a world where it was set up for a black person to lose and a white person to win. And a majority of the whites liked it that way, as portrayed in the film. And it isn't "racist" as some have posted. It is the truth whether you want to believe it.
The story of this film is amazing, the acting is impeccable, and it is something that all young people should see. As Tolson said people need to "find, take back, and keep our righteous mind."
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
I Liked It
Maybe I am one of the few people on this message board that actually liked this movie. I thought it was great. It was a charming story about the power of miracles and the fact that angels do really exist. (Of course, we wish they all looked like Denzel Washington, but they do exist!) This is my favorite type of a story because so many people these days forget about the miracles every day.
I mean, here comes Dudley, an angel, from heaven sent to help out a family that was about to come apart. Maybe some people don't believe that is possible, but I certainly do. The performances were amazing and we get to hear Whitney Houston's beautiful voice. Give this movie a shot!
Cape Fear (1991)
One of Marty's Finest
BOTH my best friend and I think that this is one of the best movies that was ever made. Robert DeNiro was stunning and malicious as Cady. His body language was both charming yet menacing. You like him and yet you hate him. This was a very difficult character to play, yet DeNiro played it beautifully. But am I the only one who is incredibly annoyed with the casting of Juliette Lewis, who always sounds as if she's half dead! I can't stand her! But not even she messed this movie up.
Nick Nolte was amazing and Jessica Lange was good too. Marty Scorsese is my favorite director in the world, along with Steven Spielberg and Gus Van Sant. This movie gave me the chills. The family knew that Cady would never stop, and it just takes one person doing that to you to have your life completely undone.
City by the Sea (2002)
I could relate to Joey
Even though this wasn't as big as some of DeNiro's other movies, he gave, in my opinion, one of the best performances in his career. He plays a homicide detective whose own son is charged with a murder he didn't commit. But to me, this wasn't a story about a crime. It was the backdrop certainly, but it was more about a father and son reconnecting after years of conflict. I could definitely relate to Joey. My father left me as well, and I haven't seen him for 5 years. Although I haven't done the things that Joey has done (drugs) I have found myself saying the things that Joey said to his father to my own.
But unlike my father, you could see that DeNiro wanted to reach out...he just didn't know how. James Franco is an amazing talent and DeNiro is...well...DeNiro. It was a really good film.
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Great Film
It made me question everything I believed in about the death penalty. I always thought I knew how I felt but I was wrong. I don't. When I watched this film, other feelings arose in my heart. Instead of only feeling for the families of the victims, I also felt for the family of Matthew Poncelet and even Matthew Poncelet himself. What he did to those kids was disgusting but what the government did to him was sick too. Sister Helen Prejean is the most courageous woman I have ever read about. I think I would be too scared to do what she did. Not a lot of people can open their hearts up the way she did. She remind me of the saying...The less we see with our eyes, the more we see with our hearts. She allowed herself to see another side of Mr. Poncelet, a side that people didn't want to see. The scene when he was speaking with his family before his execution killed me, especially when they weren't allowed to touch him. But when he admitted to what he had done, I started to cry. I cried, not only because Sean Penn is brilliant, but because I realized that the bigger half of me did NOT want him to die.
Sister Prejean is my hero...and for me, that isn't a term I take lightly. I mean, I have people in my life that I hold to a high standard and want to emulate them as best I can. But never a hero. To me a hero is someone who is willing to risk their lives for what they believe. A hero is someone who opens their heart to all people and is willing to fight until the very end. Someone who makes me re-think myself and what I stand for. But most of all is someone who makes me wonder...Am I willing to go that far? Is any of us?
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Holy S***
DiCaprio gave what I thought was one of the best performances of his career! The scene where he is going through withdrawal not only scared me to death the first time I saw it, but still gives me goosebumps as I watch it over and over again. And the scene where he begs his mother for money still brings me to tears. He is stunning. Truly one of the best.
Another wonderful performance is Lorraine Bracco, the actress you played Jim's mother. She was wonderful as the lost mother who didn't know how to help her son. Juliette Lewis was good in the role of the prostitute. This role is perfect for her because she always sounds high anyway. Mark Wahlberg was okay as Mickey and Bruno Kirby was chilling as the pedophile.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Breath-taking and emotionally gripping film
This was flat-out, out of the best movies I've ever seen. But I have been reading some comments about this movie and I want to clear some things up.
April is NOT selfish! She really loves Frank and would do anything to make him happy. She and him and both miserable in suburbia and she knows that Frank hates the job he works at. So she suggests that they go away. She only says Paris because she knows it's one of the only places he's ever been to that makes him feel "alive". She wants him to find a job that makes him happy. In fact, I firmly believe that if he told her he wanted to be a flamingo dancer, she would buy him the suit and let him do the can-can all over the house if it made him happy.
When he accepts her offer to got to Paris, she feels that everything will be perfect. But then she hears him on the beach telling someone else about the job offer. She is crushed, not only because she was the last to know, but because it was like he was stomping on her dream of happiness for the family.
She decides then that she's done...that she just can't handle it anymore. She is tired of living a lie that she is happy when she knows full-well that she isn't. She loves him but frankly, marriage and kids is draining the life out of her. I think when she heard what she heard on the beach and Frank said, "Why don't you let that be my business," or whatever he said, he was basically telling her it was his life and to stay out of it.
That's why the whole fight in the woods scene happened...she had made up her mind. She wanted out. You may not agree with her decision, but I can definitely understand it.
And Frank is not a bad man. Yes, I am aware that he cheated on April. But so did she. He's the type of man that needs to be loved and appreciated. I think he felt he wasn't getting that with April. He loves her and cares about her but she's a lot for him to handle. Especially in the opening scene when they get into a fight about the play. He can see that she is hurting that it bombed and he wants to make her feel better. But he doesn't know what to say and whatever he says, is wrong to April because she's already in a terrible mood. And you know men...they mean well but sometimes they are totally clueless.
And he felt awful about cheating. Did you see the close-up when April and the kids sang happy birthday to him. He felt like the biggest jerk!
The acting was amazing. Leonardo DiCaprio was unbelievable as Frank. In the scene where April tells him she hates him and he cries, it ripped me apart inside. I don't know...something about men crying bothers me. Kate was wonderful as usual. I hope she wins that Oscar. The best thing about this movie was that DiCaprio and Winslet could speak volumes without saying a single word. It was all in their eyes.
Sam Mendes is a genius! Anyway, I think I'm rambling now so I'll leave you to decide for yourself what you think of this movie. I, as you can see, fully enjoyed it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Even with amazing moments, this movie fails to impress
This really wasn't a bad movie. But it didn't make me think "Wow, what an amazing movie." It had some very good scenes in it, like the seen with the little girl and Benjamin under the table. But ultimately, it was dreadfully dull. I didn't like how almost every 5 minutes, we got cut back in to the hospital. I know Julia Ormond was telling this story, but still. It got old.
Brad Pitt was okay as Benjamin but not great. If you think about it, he didn't really have that difficult of a character to play. I didn't hate this movie, but I certainly won't see this again. I don't think it deserved the nominations it got.
Notorious (2009)
Uggggggggggggggggggh
I hated this. I mean I REALLY REALLY hate this. I went to see it strictly because I knew that Derek Luke was in it and I think he is a fantastic actor. But not even he could save this dog of a movie. I have seen a lot of bad movies but never bad enough to walk out in the middle of it. The guy who played Biggie sounded like he had an enormous booger stuck in his nose.
I also hated the character...there was nothing likable about this movie to me. But hey, if you like to hear the word mother-f***** and the n-word every two seconds, then be my guest. But it got old and infuriating to me.