EdF135 Reviews

Time Changer (2002)

Agenda driven film saved by a likable character

[7/10 · 28 January 2008]

I'm not a big fan of agenda driven films even when, as in this case, I agree with the message. But if I like a character, I may overlook my other reservations I have with a given film (for example I loved "Jump Tomorrow" a film I probably would've thought was silly if I hadn't liked George and Alicia so much, but I couldn't stand "Waking Life" despite liking its main character.) Russell Carlisle was very likable in my book and it was fascinating to see how a theology professor of his era would have viewed our time. I do feel that a more character driven approach would have brought him to the same conclusion of how and why society had changed, and it wouldn't have required the sort of heavy handed near-diatribe the librarian went into (which "just happened" to directly respond to the question that sent him to the future in the first place). Though the agenda driven approach was less effective, I still liked the film enough to watch it again the next day and I'm pretty sure I will end up buying it.

I think it's only fair that I end this by thanking all the film's detractors here at IMDb for helping me decide whether or not to rent it. I've read numerous reviews for Christian films in the past that were written by the production companies and it's often been hard to determine from the reviews whether we have a good film or only a good premise. But after being assured by so many reviewers here that "diehard" or "fundamentalist" Christians would like Time Changers, I thought I better check it out. Sure enough, you were all right and I did like it. I wish I had time to rate all of your comments as useful!

Jeffries-Johnson World's Championship Boxing Contest, Held at Reno, Nevada, July 4, 1910 (1910)

THE fight of the 20th century

[6/10 · 13 July 2005]

*** SPOILERS TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THEIR BOXING HISTORY *** Ali - Frazier, Louis - Schmeling II, Dempsey - Tunney II were huge, but EVERYONE was on pins and needles about Johnson - Jeffries. Jack Johnson became the first black Heavyweight champion in 1908 after shaming Tommy Burns into crossing the "color line" and annihilating him in Sydney, Australia. After going on to defeat one "Great White Hope" after another, public pressure fell upon Jim Jeffries, who had retired undefeated in 1905, to come back and reclaim the title for the white race. Ultimately, the fight didn't live up to the hype though, and there was so much hype there's probably no way it could have. An ex-champion who'd been out of the ring for 5 years vs. a current champion in his prime... The results were a very one-sided fight. Not too exciting, but fascinating.

And Your Mother Too (2001)

Really overrated

[6/10 · 24 February 2003]

I was just reading the Amores Perros reviews and someone mentioned that it seemed if you liked one you'd hate the other and vice versa. Well let's just say I LOVED Amores Perros and in my case the reviewer was right.

Well actually I'm exaggerating. I didn't hate this film, but I thought it was definitely a step backwards for Mexican filmmakers. I left the theater thinking it was an okay film, and was later shocked to see the kind of critical acclaim it's getting. Best foreign film nominee??? It wasn't one fourth as good as Monsoon Wedding (2001?) or City of God. I don't have my films of the year ranking spreadsheet handy, but I don't think it was even in my top 30. Maybe people want to say they liked it so everyone will know they could handle an X (oh sorry, NT-17/non-rated) art film? If you've got nothing better to do, okay rent it. But if you want to see something great, find something else. 6/10

Blue Velvet (1986)

Maybe I expected too much...

[24 February 2003]

I loved Mulholland Drive and after seeing all the write-ups on Blue Velvet, finding it on best movies lists, etc. etc. I really was expecting a lot. I liked Blue Velvet, but I doubt if I'll ever watch it again (by contrast, I've seen Mulholland Drive 5 or 6 times). So obviously, I don't think it's Lynch's best. In fact, it's my least favorite of the 4 films I've seen by him (behind Mulholland Drive, The Straight Story and Lost Highway).

Frida (2002)

I'm surprised it's being rated so high here...

[5/10 · 14 November 2002]

It wasn't awful, but it was very uninteresting too much of the time (for the first hour and 15 minutes I was continually looking at my watch trying to guess when it would end. The final act did draw me in though). I liked the acting, the sets, and some of the "artistic moments" were great while a handful didn't really work. And it should have been shot in Spanish!!! I bet the real Frida would have backed me up on that. She must have been an amazing woman, and I think she deserved to have her story presented through a much more interesting script.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Great 3rd act...

[7/10 · 26 September 2001]

But I never would have made it that far if I'd rented the video. The first act was the world's longest music video (I'd seen enough after 2 minutes) and the second was pretty much filler. If I'd gone to the theater alone, I might have walked out before it was over. But I was with friends so I really couldn't. The 3rd act was amazing and definitely made up for a lot, it was very passionate. Overall, pretty good for a mainstream film.

Brother (I) (2000)

Aniki...

[8/10 · 1 August 2001]

I don't even like action movies, but the previews of this made it seem different and it was. I read some reviews and an interview with Kitano before seeing it and Kitano was refuting what was written in the reviews (that he was a "Japanese Clint Eastwood"). Well, Kitano was right. I have to admit I haven't seen that many Eastwood films, but from the ones I've seen there was no comparison. The depth of the character, his reasons for doing things, whatever was inside that made him absolutely fearless and resolute, and how he ultimately found peace were nothing I've ever seen in any other action movie.

It's hard to say the things I liked most about this film without giving spoilers, but take it from someone who doesn't like the genre, this is a good one!

Jump Tomorrow (2001)

Why did I like this so much???

[19 July 2001]

I mean the story was simple, production was fine although the budget obviously wasn't in the 10s of millions of dollars and I never quite understood why George and Alicia liked each other so much. But despite all of that I sat in the theater very happy that I took a chance on this one. I think the spartan production made the whole thing seem more real, and since it seemed more real I wanted them to be happy... The characters were all very likeable too, like Gerard and Alicia's aunt. Finally, bonus points for not using subtitles (hey, I understood most of the Espanol!).

Sexy Beast (2000)

This is what all the fuss was about?

[6/10 · 25 June 2001]

I read the premise for this film and didn't think it looked very interesting, but after seeing all the critics drooling over it (and frankly since there was nothing else I really wanted to see last weekend) I thought I'd give it a chance. Who knows, thought I, I might get a surprise. Well no...

Ben Kingsley was great, there was a "frozen" moment that I thought was "unfrozen" well and there was some good tension at the end. That's about all I can say, the rest was nothing all that great and a lot of the time, barely interesting. The ending was far from surprising. The "Critical Review" ("An assessment of current motion pictures by major American film critics.") ranks this as number one right now, over Amores Perros. I respectfully, but completely, disagree. 6/10

Amores Perros (2000)

Even better the second time

[9/10 · 4 June 2001]

Even after the first time I saw this movie, I thought it was the best nominee for the best foreign film Oscar (out of what I've seen that is, Divided We Fall comes here to the Bay Area in a couple of weeks, no sign of Everybody Famous yet...). But I was a little disappointed because I anticipated some of the intersection points, probably from seeing so many films using a similar narrative style (i.e. Mystery Train, Dekalog, Trois Colours, Pulp Fiction, Snatch, Reservoir Dogs, Before the Rain, etc.). But the second time I felt freer just to watch all that was unfolding in the lives of the characters and I loved it. Being a sucker for redemption, I liked seeing the changes that occurred in the life of El Chivo, and also that it was far from being a trite overnight transformation; he was still on a journey... Amores Perros was definitely one of the best movies I've seen this year.

A Time for Drunken Horses (2000)

Another gem from Iran

[25 May 2001]

Iran must have a very strong storytelling tradition, because I've seen about 7 movies from there in the last year and (with the exception of The Wind Will Carry Us), they've all been amazing. Next to the White Balloon this one was my favorite. Months after seeing it I still feel awful about complaining about traffic or any of the "problems" in my life when I think of the things a 12 year old Ayoub had to deal with (my big problem when I was 12, my mom threatening to throw my baseball cards away, doesn't quite compare...). It's so rare to see such a display of devotion, perseverance, maturity that doesn't look totally contrived. Add to that that these were all amateur actors and you end up with something from the heart that has a lot of depth. 9/10

Left Behind: The Movie (2000)

I don't know what to say...

[13 February 2001]

I really had high hopes for this film, (maybe too high) and I thought after seeing it I would be here defending it. Unfortunately, I really can't. I found the story to be shallow, for example the conversions of the father and daughter weren't believable, they just happened to quickly and easily. Considering the dramatic circumstances (2 of their family members were taken to heaven, and they know it) it shouldn't have been that hard to make their decisions to turn to Christ convincing. Really, the refusal of the wife in "Thief in the Night" to comply with Unite was much more convincing, probably because we saw more details of her life before the rapture.

I'm guessing that due to the rush to get this to the theaters and the understandable zeal at sharing the gospel message, the time and care weren't taken to craft a compelling, believable story. I think Left Behind represents a step backward from both Revelation and the Omega Code. I hope and pray for better sequels.

Hannibal (2001)

Friday the 13th part N, Jason goes to Italia, oops I mean Italy

[3/10 · 12 February 2001]

Strangely enough, the Italians forgot how to speak Italian until the came to the US! But anyway, this wasn't a horrible movie, it's just that a lot of the things I love about Silence were dispensed with this time around. I found Hannibal to be a much more intriguing character the first go-round, and the difference definitely wasn't the fault of Anthony Hopkins who always delivers as far as I'm concerned (even in Instinct!). More likely it was such things as having his motivations given away (i.e. being told he doesn't like rude people) instead of wondering what it was and trying to figure that out. The blood-letting was really overdone despite the fact that more blood should have been expected this time than before since Hannibal was now on the loose. I normally expect to be disappointed by sequels and I did/was by this one. It was an okay way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but I won't bother seeing it again and again as I did Silence of the Lambs.

Quills (2000)

If only they had handcuffs in the 1800s...

[2/10 · 9 January 2001]

Binding the Marquis' hands could have saved a couple of tongues and maybe even lives. Rush's performance was incredible, and I look forward to seeing more of his work, but I was expecting to see a character driven rather than plot driven film which is why I normally watch foreign/"indie" films rather than those from Hollywood. The author seems to have written the ending and been determined to get the characters to it no matter what it cost the story. The Abbet's (sp?) refusal to bind his "friend's" hands even after he realized he (the Marquis) would rather destroy himself rather than stop writing just didn't make sense. I realize this move could have cut out a lot of the drama and sensationalism, but it would have been more true to the characters I saw.

Yi dai tian jiao Cheng Ji Si Han (1998)

My first Mongolian film

[7/10 · 21 December 2000]

And I hope it won't be the last. It was interesting to get a glimpse of Mongolia, a glimpse of life hundreds of years ago and to see Genghis Khan through Mongolian eyes. The film looked at his personal life and the things that drove him to become who he ultimately became.

Now I'd like to have a glimpse of contemporary Mongolia.

The Eyes Have It (1928)

Poor Ben....

[9/10 · 6 November 2000]

This was, to me, the funniest silent film ever. It's the story of an average guy who wants to read the newspaper or fish in peace, but can't thanks to a brat of a son and a rough mother-in-law. Such a simple story, but it had me gasping for breath!

Revelation (1999)

The best Christian film yet...

[7/10 · 18 May 1999]

and I can't wait to see what's next. Interesting twists to the post-rapture world, the mark of the beast, one world government, etc. A little too pleasant of an ending considering the brutal nature of the subject matter though.

Times Square (1980)

interesting try

[5/10 · 18 May 1999]

I'm probably one of the few who saw this when it came out as a young punk fan, but I was bored to tears by it. I didn't even think most of the music was any good. It seemed overdone, tired and definitely something from the outside looking in. It really didn't compare with The Decline of Western Civilization, DOA, Rude Boy, or even Rock and Roll High School.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

The funniest movie I've seen in years...

[10/10 · 5 May 1999]

It's hard to know what can be added to what's already been said. When I read the reviews, I picked this one because I thought it would be at least ok, but I had no idea how hard I'd be laughing. Great characters, fun twists (sometimes I could guess what was gonna happen next, yet when it did I still couldn't stop laughing) and even cockney rhyme slang. I'll be in shock if this isn't my choice for movie of the year.

Serial Mom (1994)

Wha' happen?

[5/10 · 23 April 1999]

John Waters is one of my favorite US directors (if not my favorite), but I found this movie to be completely boring. Maybe he made it that way deliberately in order to portray a sterile suburbia, but I don't know... 5/10.

Hurlyburly (1998)

SHUT UP!

[1/10 · 31 March 1999]

That's what I felt like yelling as well as stomping out of the theater, but I restrained myself. Yes the acting was great, no this wasn't the typical hollywood film, but the dialogue just wouldn't end (or get interesting)! And despite all the gabbing, you never get to really know or care about any of the characters. Definitely the most boring film I've seen since Sphere, but I was expecting that one to be boring. I had to sit through it, but please, spare yourself

A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

great...

[9/10 · 31 March 1999]

I can't remember many films where a bumbling idiot of a hero was so funny throughout. Leslie Cheung is such the antithesis of a hero that he's too dense to be seduced by a gorgeous vampire... I had the good luck to see it on a big screen, and to find a video to watch again and again. 9/10

A Thief in the Night (1972)

You've been left behind!

[7/10 · 25 February 1999]

Obviously, there wasn't a huge budget for this film which definitely hindered the production. But the story and ending were so brutal that they made up for a lot. I mean brutal on the level of Ju Dou and other (great) Chinese films. I first saw this when I was 14 years old, I ran home and begged God to forgive me for everything...

Rampo (1994)

Visual delight...

[9/10 · 23 February 1999]

An incredibly lush film which was so beautifully shot, it's easier to remember the cinematography and musically than it is the story. A writer's work is censored by the government, but this doesn't stop his story from coming to life around him, or it's being a means of him finding love.

My Twentieth Century (1989)

Beautiful

[10/10 · 23 February 1999]

I normally have a problem with contemporary films shot in black in white, but this one was too good for my misgivings. It's the story of twin girls who are separated early in life and go in separate directions (one as a seductress, one as an anarchist) towards each other as the world marches into the 20th century.