(2009) -3/5
***SPOILER ALERT***
"They're either on their way, or they're already here"
I decided to read the reviews (on imdb) after I watched the movie itself, rather than the other way around - I've heard mixed reviews from people I've talked to and I wanted to watch it without any preconceived judgments. Now that I've seen it, I do understand why so many people hated this movie (and some even thought it tainted their opinions of the first), however, although it wasn't as good as the first, I don't think it's as horrible as the reviews make it out to be. With that being said, I do wish I had a chance to watch the first one again because I haven't seen it in such a long time; but I do remember loving it.
I liked the slow motion gunfights and it had the most intense scene of Russian roulette I've ever seen (which was my favorite scene by far). The first BDS had a good comedy, whereas BDS2 had comedy at random points so it had a less serious tone than the first. The banter between the 3 detectives and the FBI special agent was at times entertaining, but it was overdone too, which made it childish and distasteful. There were a few parts that people would be shouting at each other at the same time and I actually had to turn on the subtitles to understand what was being said.
The low budget is reflected in the acting and the editing. There were a few transitions between scenes that were a bit jumpy; the minimal editing made it seem as if some scenes skipped to the next, but it didn't really take away from the movie.
When I found out that this sequel has the original actors as the father and sons, I figured it was worth the watch considering the actors from the first agreed to come back after 10 years. The brothers were awesome and the dad was solid too! Clifton Collins Jr had a lot of one-liners (example: "this isn't rocket surgery") - some were funny, some were poorly written. Julie Benz is great on Dexter, but she didn't really suit this roll and the southern accent was atrocious. I guess she was supposed to be a female version of Smecker, but he was just too good and there was no way she could fill his shoes. The bad guys/ gangsters were a joke; I don't really want to get into it, but I will say that they were dimwitted and slow, not to mention the horrible acting.
As it progressed I do think it got better - it was an average movie, which sucks because it could have been so much better! A few tweaks here and there would have got it a higher rating. Every mistake took its toll on my overall opinion of the movie. The ending left it open for a Boondock Saints 3 so I'm interested to see how that'll turn out, hopefully not in another10 years!
*My personal opinions* on any movie that I have watched.
September 28, 2010
September 24, 2010
Fracture
2007 - 3.5/5
I'd classify this as a psychological thriller + mystery + court drama all rolled into one. Gosling and Hopkins compliment each other very well in this movie. The dialogue was very clever and it drew me into each character so at some points I found myself rooting for Willy Beachum (Gosling) and at other times, I'd be rooting for Ted Crawford (Hopkins). It did start off a bit slow, but once the mind games began, the paced picked up. Lastly, it's not over till it's over!
I'd classify this as a psychological thriller + mystery + court drama all rolled into one. Gosling and Hopkins compliment each other very well in this movie. The dialogue was very clever and it drew me into each character so at some points I found myself rooting for Willy Beachum (Gosling) and at other times, I'd be rooting for Ted Crawford (Hopkins). It did start off a bit slow, but once the mind games began, the paced picked up. Lastly, it's not over till it's over!
September 21, 2010
House of Wax
(2005) - 4/5
***SPOILER ALERT***
I liked the pace of this movie and although the movie did start off a bit slow (and it took 45 minutes for things to really get started but that time wasn't completely wasted) it was used for character development, and I came to like most of the characters (the characters were pretty likeable). There were moments of suspense in those 45 minutes that also kept my attention. I really don't think that this deserved such an average rating on IMDB (and I don't think Paris Hilton was THAT bad, but more on that later!).
Plot: B+
I know this is a remake (and I haven't seen the 1953 version), but the plot was good. I remember a lot of people commenting on how the brothers got so much wax, but who cares! There are so many unbelievable effects in movies, so let it go.
Script: B
The script was okay, pretty much exactly what you think it'll be.
Acting: B+ / A-
I do think that Elisha Cuthbert is underrated: she is a dynamic actress and she can play different roles very well. She definitely suited the role as Carly. Chad Michael Murray (as Nick) fit his role really well as a 'bad ass' and Cuthbert and Murray were a good pair (they actually seem believable as siblings). Their performances stood out the most for me.
Jared Padalecki (as Wade) and Brian Van Holt (as the brothers Bo and Vincent) did a pretty good too. Dalton (Jon Abrahams) did get a bit annoying and I think that if the director had taken a bit more time with this character, it could have turned out to be a good one (his dumbass qualities were a bit much). Robert Ri'chard (as Blake) didn't have a huge role or anything so his character didn't have much to add to the movie other than a quick kill.
As for Paris Hilton... don't expect her to be anything else than what/who she already is (some people like it or don't mind it, some hate it). There were a few parts in the movie that poked fun at Paris (the lipstick part and the night vision part), and I thought that was funny. Her chase scene was pretty tense and her scream was convincing; and of course she had to die in a scantily clad outfit! Don't expect an Oscar winning performance; I don't think this was her best performance or anything, but she did what she needed to do, and I think she did it well. (Side note: just for the record, it's unfortunate to say that her role in Repo! The Genetic Opera was, and probably will always be, her best role ever. Seriously - check that out).
Cinematography: B+
Pretty good - the house of wax melting at the end was done really well!
The director didn't add an excess amount of blood just because he could, so the gory parts seemed realistic.
Soundtrack: n/a
Nothing memorable, but I did think that the music went with the scenes it was paired with.
Overall: A- / B+
There were a lot of good scares. I thought this movie was extremely suspenseful and I got the shivers so many times throughout the movie.
I thought this movie had a lot of creative aspects:
The part in which Carly's finger got cut off was so intense and I had lumps in my throat.
Wade getting waxed alive was unexpected.
When Dalton was trying to take the wax off Wade and the skin started to peel off Wade's face made me cringe.
Carly's lips being super glued together made me reach for my chapstick!
I found myself gripping onto my seat during the part they entered the movie theatre - I was even holding my breath.
This movie drew me in and freaked me out; so what else was it supposed to do? I'd say mission accomplished!
A few comments that I had read on IMDB and thought it was worth mentioning:
(1) 'For a movie that has Paris Hilton and Elisha Cuthbert, you'd think that there would be some nudity!'
(2) 'Someone wrote that they had expected Paris Hilton to touch wax and say "that's hot" (haha).
I liked the pace of this movie and although the movie did start off a bit slow (and it took 45 minutes for things to really get started but that time wasn't completely wasted) it was used for character development, and I came to like most of the characters (the characters were pretty likeable). There were moments of suspense in those 45 minutes that also kept my attention. I really don't think that this deserved such an average rating on IMDB (and I don't think Paris Hilton was THAT bad, but more on that later!).
Plot: B+
I know this is a remake (and I haven't seen the 1953 version), but the plot was good. I remember a lot of people commenting on how the brothers got so much wax, but who cares! There are so many unbelievable effects in movies, so let it go.
Script: B
The script was okay, pretty much exactly what you think it'll be.
Acting: B+ / A-
I do think that Elisha Cuthbert is underrated: she is a dynamic actress and she can play different roles very well. She definitely suited the role as Carly. Chad Michael Murray (as Nick) fit his role really well as a 'bad ass' and Cuthbert and Murray were a good pair (they actually seem believable as siblings). Their performances stood out the most for me.
Jared Padalecki (as Wade) and Brian Van Holt (as the brothers Bo and Vincent) did a pretty good too. Dalton (Jon Abrahams) did get a bit annoying and I think that if the director had taken a bit more time with this character, it could have turned out to be a good one (his dumbass qualities were a bit much). Robert Ri'chard (as Blake) didn't have a huge role or anything so his character didn't have much to add to the movie other than a quick kill.
As for Paris Hilton... don't expect her to be anything else than what/who she already is (some people like it or don't mind it, some hate it). There were a few parts in the movie that poked fun at Paris (the lipstick part and the night vision part), and I thought that was funny. Her chase scene was pretty tense and her scream was convincing; and of course she had to die in a scantily clad outfit! Don't expect an Oscar winning performance; I don't think this was her best performance or anything, but she did what she needed to do, and I think she did it well. (Side note: just for the record, it's unfortunate to say that her role in Repo! The Genetic Opera was, and probably will always be, her best role ever. Seriously - check that out).
Cinematography: B+
Pretty good - the house of wax melting at the end was done really well!
The director didn't add an excess amount of blood just because he could, so the gory parts seemed realistic.
Soundtrack: n/a
Nothing memorable, but I did think that the music went with the scenes it was paired with.
Overall: A- / B+
There were a lot of good scares. I thought this movie was extremely suspenseful and I got the shivers so many times throughout the movie.
I thought this movie had a lot of creative aspects:
The part in which Carly's finger got cut off was so intense and I had lumps in my throat.
Wade getting waxed alive was unexpected.
When Dalton was trying to take the wax off Wade and the skin started to peel off Wade's face made me cringe.
Carly's lips being super glued together made me reach for my chapstick!
I found myself gripping onto my seat during the part they entered the movie theatre - I was even holding my breath.
This movie drew me in and freaked me out; so what else was it supposed to do? I'd say mission accomplished!
A few comments that I had read on IMDB and thought it was worth mentioning:
(1) 'For a movie that has Paris Hilton and Elisha Cuthbert, you'd think that there would be some nudity!'
(2) 'Someone wrote that they had expected Paris Hilton to touch wax and say "that's hot" (haha).
September 18, 2010
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
(2009) - 0/5
The only thing I will say is 'have you heard how crappy this movie is?' if not, read away...
After witnessing a murder, this couple (whose relationship is on the rocks) gets put into a witness protection program, which becomes a metal detox from the hussle and bussle of a fast paced city life. There are certain things you come to expect from chick flicks, and this movie has them all, but it manages to execute it in such an awful way. It was so predictable that it was tedious to sit through. It took a while for the reason of the [potential] split to arise. This movie dragged and there wasn't much character development and I hated SJP's voice.
This movie was so bad that I could careless about writing a full review. To sum it up, you're better off not hearing about the Morgan's.
The only thing I will say is 'have you heard how crappy this movie is?' if not, read away...
After witnessing a murder, this couple (whose relationship is on the rocks) gets put into a witness protection program, which becomes a metal detox from the hussle and bussle of a fast paced city life. There are certain things you come to expect from chick flicks, and this movie has them all, but it manages to execute it in such an awful way. It was so predictable that it was tedious to sit through. It took a while for the reason of the [potential] split to arise. This movie dragged and there wasn't much character development and I hated SJP's voice.
This movie was so bad that I could careless about writing a full review. To sum it up, you're better off not hearing about the Morgan's.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)