Repo! The Genetic Opera

2008 - 5/5

I really wanted to watch a scary movie on Halloween and I tried to watch American Psycho and Halloween (2007), but both were so boring so I turned them off. I took a look at my movies and the moment my eyes saw Repo! I knew what I’d watch.

I have never been a fan of musicals and I’ve been to an Opera once and although it was nice, can’t say I’d go to one again. I’m not sure what I expected in terms of a Rock Opera, but after having seen the movie (more than once), I can say that I loved it.

Considering this wouldn’t be the type of movie I’d be eager to see, I don’t remember why I really wanted to see it when it first came out. It could have been because the storyline was so intriguing. To think that a Repo-Man would be sent to reposes an organ was new to me. There was a lot of gore, but at the same time it was tastefully done, so I noticed it in more of an artsy way than slasher’ish.

I liked the songs and how it was incorporated into the dialogue as well as how the songs were mixed in with the plot on a more direct level than most musicals are. The song Zydrate Anatomy was my favourite, and by the end of the movie I was ready to buy the soundtrack, but the CD wasn’t available in Canada, so I just downloaded a few songs off iTunes.

As for the acting, I think everyone, and yes, I mean Paris Hilton as well, did a great job. All the voices were unique and each character was well rounded. Everyone’s voices were really good and my favourites had to be The Grave Robber and Blind Mag.

I LOVED the graphic novel drawings used to illustrate the back story. It was a very creative and unique way to do that. The movie flowed in and out of them very well.

I remember that the first time I watched it in the theatres, I really had to go to pee about 15 minutes in, but I didn’t go because I didn’t want to miss a thing.

I can’t say that this movie is for everyone and I’d be selective with regards to whom I’d recommend it to, but it was a solid movie all around. Worth watching if you have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

Love & Other Drugs

2010 – 2.3/5

I want to start this review by saying that I intend on writing a comparative review for the following movies: Love & Other Drugs (L&OD), Friends With Benefits (FWB), and No Strings Attached (NSA). So I won’t be comparing L&OD to the other 2 in this review; but once I do, I’ll add a link HERE.

I really like Jake Gyllenhall. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie of his I didn’t like. Anne Hathaway is a good actress as well, so I was hoping this wouldn’t be a typical, overly cheesy, chick flick. The plot wasn’t exactly new or fresh – not by a long shot. But was it entertaining? Ya, I think so.

The movie moved at a good speed. What needed to happen happened and there wasn’t much filler for the sake of making it a longer movie; everything necessary was covered. Even the supporting cast had relevant, funny roles. The dialogue was probably my favourite part. It was actually witty, funny and entertaining.

There was one part I disliked and that was when Maggie (Hathaway) was freaking out. You could tell she was acting there and it felt a bit forced, but I was able to look over that and move on.

Jake Gyllenhall (and his ass) were fine!

Bottom line: I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I expected to (but for the record, I wasn’t expecting much).

No Strings Attached

2011 – 0/5

I was originally going to give this movie a 0.5/5 because I like Natalie Portman, but this movie was just horrible. The only times I laughed was because whatever I was seeing was just sooo bad! At the hour mark, it was a lot longer than it should have been.

This movie SUCKED. Avoid.

Hugo

2011 – 1.5/5

I wasn’t too sure where this movie was going. Especially when it was doing a quick recap of the first movies ever made. By the end, it was an okay storyline, but nothing superb.

I really enjoyed the acting by everyone, and Sacha Baron Cohen was my favourite. I really liked the cinematography and how well this movie was put together.

Stolen

2009 - 1/5

Mildly entertaining. I liked how the movie jumped back and forth between 1958 and the present day. More importantly I really liked some of the transitions between scenes. The acting was fine, the plot was interesting, but overall, there was nothing new added that would make this movie stand out among the many others like it.