MovieDave Reviews

Creed II (2018)

A bit better than average

[7/10 · 24 November 2018]

The only thing I can say about this movie that might be negative is that it was unbelievably predictable. The acting was excellent on all accounts, but the viewer in my opinion had to know exactly what was about to unfold as the movie progressed. However, overall a good entertaining movie.

Instant Family (2018)

I found it a bit incomplete

[5/10 · 24 November 2018]

I thought this movie, while trying very hard, was a misrepresentation of adoption. The movie turned each and every situation to a negative view. Of course the happy ending is always nice, but the social and political correctness lowered my score.

An Unfinished Life (2005)

Nicely Done, with a flair.

[8/10 · 18 September 2005]

As I write this review, I think of why I actually decided to see this movie. I came to the realization that it was to see Robert Redford, and Morgan Freeman - two top-notch, class actors. That said, along with the fact that I'm not a very big fan of Jennifer Lopez's, I thought the presence of Redford, and Freeman would be enough to enjoy this movie. I was wrong, not that either Redford, or Freeman's performances were nothing less than excellent, but the job done by Becca Gardner was especially wonderful. In fact, in my opinion, she stole the show. Gardner's portrayal of the Griff Gilkyson character was a special one indeed. And yes I must admit, I even enjoyed Jennifer Lopez in this movie. All in all, a very solid movie that I enjoyed so much. And the best part, it was NOT a remake.. thankfully !!

Judging Amy (1999–2005)

Amy was wonderful !

[22 August 2005]

It was a sad day when I learned this amazing show was canceled. This show had everything needed to last for years to come. The show had great actors, wonderful supporting cast, and gripping story lines. I felt that Amy Brenneman's character, Amy Gray, was one that could be related to on all levels. All of the characters had such solid structure, whether they were re-occurring players, or regulars. In my opinion, CBS made a dreadful mistake with this decision. I do look forward to more work from Amy Brenneman, her talents are so very under-rated. I for one will certainly miss it. Now all I can do is wait for the DVDs to be released.

The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)

More Like Dukes of PC

[3/10 · 13 August 2005]

Why am I surprised when I go to a movie, and Hollywood ruins it with more politically correct nonsense ? They didn't stop here, just sit back and watch this productions' transparently veiled dig at a certain flag. Now I'm certainly not a waver of that flag, but why does Hollywood continue to play these petty PC games ? All they ever do is ruin any chance of a decent movie when they run this nonsense. Aside from the typical PC garbage, the movie was basically weak. The script was VERY loosely based on the television show. And, I have to say the characters were very poorly portrayed. The only exceptions I could find were Willie Nelson, and Lynda Carter. It was so nice to see both of them on screen again. All in all, this movie was a major disappointment. However, the MTV crowd will probably enjoy it.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Mrs Smith made better pies !

[2/10 · 10 June 2005]

How do I give this awful film any credit at all ? I guess I can't. Although, Angelina Jolie looked beautiful, and Brad Pitt was his usual handsome charming self, that's it folks. This movie was a total ZERO ! It seemed almost incomplete. Where were all of those steamy love scenes that the supermarket tabloids screamed about claiming how this movie broke up Brad and Jennifer Aniston ? The only thing this movie did was deplete the amount of money in my wallet. I just thought to myself as I left the theater today, Hollywood has just taken another 180 degree turn with the release of this flop. After seeing the wonderful Cinderellaman, this was a total disaster.

I should have read, and followed the reviews of the critic in my local paper. "Stay AWAY !"

Cinderella Man (2005)

The First "10" in MANY years !

[10/10 · 3 June 2005]

I must tell anyone who reads this review, that this movie is the first movie I have given a score of "10" since Schindler's List back in 1993. This movie had everything, from the amazing portrayals given by Russell Crowe, and Renee Zellweger, to the tremendous supporting role played by Paul Giamatti (Sideways). This picture had everything right on the money according to a very good friend of mine who grew up in the era this film depicted. The authenticity was simply as accurate as I could have ever imagined. This movie should win several Academy Awards, actor, actress, supporting actor, and director. Ron Howard hit the bullseye with this effort. Bravo, a job well done. With all of the garbage Hollywood has been producing, it was great to exit the theater feeling like it was actually worth the admission price for a change.

The Longest Yard (2005)

The Longest Yard, or a McDonald's commercial ?

[2/10 · 27 May 2005]

Now I'm not one to bash movies very often, but sadly, this movie deserves a bit of bashing. I found this movie to be one of the poorest re-makes I have seen in all of the years I have been watching, and writing about movies. This Longest Yard lacked all of the personality, characters, and true feeling of the original. Sure, there were some funny lines, but plain and simple, this movie does the original no justice at all. Secondly, I certainly understand product placement in today's movies, but to be completely honest with you, this film was more of a commercial for McDonald's than anything else. For those of us who loved the "Real Longest Yard", I leave you with this thought, buy the original on DVD - you will be glad you did ! HIS-TO-RY. (By the way, what happened to the warden's assistant?)

Anything Else (2003)

Anything Else, but still Woody Allen ...

[8/10 · 20 September 2003]

How do I begin to describe this movie ? Well, I think the best comparison I can make is that it's sort of like light beer. Please allow me to explain. You see light beer has fewer calories, and is drunk by folks who are trying to lose weight. However, these same folks usually drink double the amount, or more. Thus, eliminating the word "light" from the pure definition. This movie is basically the same thing, good thought and intention, only to be overwhelmed with no true logic. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this movie, because I did - very much actually. It just seems to me that all of the most recent Woody Allen movies are pretty much the same film, only the wardrobes of the era change.

I thought Christina Ricci was at her best in this film as well as Jason Biggs. They were both solid in their roles. On a scale of 1-10, I give this movie 8 pairs of those Woody Allen retro eyeglasses. See this film, you will enjoy it, but remember this is a Woody Allen movie - Don't say I didn't warn you.

Thirteen (2003)

Think before seeing this movie..

[4/10 · 30 August 2003]

As a fan of Holly Hunter's work I felt obliged to see this movie. I sat in the theater and watched a top notch performance by Hunter. However, I found this movie quite disturbing, and sadly all too real. I must say, even as a Holly Hunter fan, I don't think I could ever watch this movie again.

Gods and Generals (2003)

An Eerie Look Back

[9/10 · 28 February 2003]

Let's see, where shall I begin ? Well, I should tell you I enjoyed this film very much. I have spoken with a few Civil War historians, and they have concurred that the piece was factual, and quite authentic. I personally thought that Stephen Lang's portrayal of Stonewall Jackson was the highlight of this production. As I sat and watched this "marathon" of United States History, I marvelled at the costuming, and scenery. I was more than pleased to learn that the movie was shot on the very grounds in which many of the battles it depicted took place. With each scene that involved Robert E. Lee's character, played marvelously by Robert Duvall, I was simply amazed at the likeness he actually had to the General himself. I think the strongest compliment I could give this movie, was that I saw Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain on the screen, not Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall, or Jeff Daniels. This movie made my mind actually travel to the very years it encompassed.

The only somewhat negative thing I can say is that it was truly a marathon at nearly four hours. Thank goodness for intermission.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Fun, but ultra commercialization.

[6/10 · 28 February 2003]

I sat and watched this movie with a very open mind, and the hopes of seeing a fun romantic comedy. What I saw was a commercial for the NBA.

WOW, talk about your product placement ads. Was it just co-incidental that this movie was released on the NBA's All Star Weekend ? If you were to remove the needles NBA nonsense, the movie was actually fun, and very enjoyable. I find that Kate Hudson is a true, and genuine young star with endless talent. But, after a terrific film like "Almost Famous" this was a bit of a disappointment.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Indiana Jones - with curves.

[6/10 · 21 June 2001]

I can summarize this movie by saying it is an amalgamation of James Bond and Indiana Jones - without the same quality results. This movie did not capture my imagination, or my interest from the opening minutes to the alleged climactic ending. I'm still waiting for a story line to develop, and the movie ended about 10 hours ago. Needless to say I did not enjoy this movie much, though I thought Angelina Jolie's English accent was fairly authentic. Aside from the special effects this movie is one that you can wait for in the DVD rental section.

Swordfish (2001)

At least the popcorn was fresh...

[6/10 · 20 June 2001]

I think my summary line says it all for 'Swordfish'. Aside from the elaborate explosions, and nicely done special effects this movie is another in a long growing line of recent duds for John Travolta. I often wonder how an actor with Travolta's star power and audience appeal can have such a string of loser movies. While this movie was far better than the ill-fated 'Battlefield Earth', it's been quite some time between hits for Mr. Travolta. Have any of you seen 'Lucky Numbers'? - no need to if you missed it. The one bright spot in this movie was Don Cheadle, I found his performance to be dead on with the flow of the movie. In a nutshell, this swordfish drowned.

Evolution (2001)

Just sit back and laugh..

[7/10 · 12 June 2001]

Now let's make one thing clear, this movie is NOT science fiction, maybe that's why I actually enjoyed it. I think I would classify 'Evolution' more as 'ScienceFUNction" instead. There are some real genuine laughs, as well as some nicely done special effects. In my opinion Orlando Jones was the glue that held this movie together. It was also a nice change to see Julianne Moore play a different role than she usually does. I think it showed how good an actress she really is. David Duchovny actually looked like he had a lot of fun, and enjoyed making this movie. If you're in the mood for a nice light comedy see 'Evolution' you might enjoy it.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Just not my idea of fun...

[3/10 · 4 June 2001]

Here's the confusion I am confronting - How do I write a review on a movie that I walked out on just about an hour after it began ? It's easy, state the facts. In excess of 85% of the movies' dialogue was not spoken, but sung. I am a big fan of Nicole Kidman's work, but I lost interest in this movie about 15 minutes after it began, and incidentally that's about how long it seemed before Nicole Kidman appeared on the screen. I don't walk out on movies very often, in fact it's a very rare thing that I even leave the theatre before the credits are finished rolling. But, now and then it's necessary to bite the bullet and say that's enough and walk towards the exits. I feel confident you'll see this movie appear in the video store bargain bin very soon.

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)

It's just plain funny !

[6/10 · 4 June 2001]

Just the name Martin Lawrence kind of makes me laugh, and this movie with Danny DeVito will give you several good belly laughs. Plain and simple, the formula for a good comedy is not all that complex, as this film clearly shows. There's no gross-out humor, or excessive vulgar language needed to make this movie a fun couple of hours. I also genuinely liked John Leguizamo's character throughout the movie. All in all this movie is a barrel of laughs from start to finish.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

How they wrecked a good movie..

[7/10 · 29 May 2001]

Are you familiar with the term 'addition by subtraction' ? Well that saying is the ultimate definition of this movie. Why the producers of this film allowed it to be ruined with an absolutely pitiful, and absurd love story puzzles me. There was more "Hollywood" in this movie than even Hollywood should tolerate. The factual events that occurred were depicted well, with amazing authenticity and reality, and would have been more than enough to make this movie work. However, each time the movie strayed form the actual event, the production suffered miserably. If you can get past the totally un-believable Hollywood mish-mosh this film is not too bad. But, it could have been so much better. Please keep in mind it is over 3 hours long... hey somebody bring back the intermission !

Angel Eyes (2001)

Angels packing heat ?

[7/10 · 22 May 2001]

I looked forward to seeing this movie the moment I saw the trailer for the first time. I found that the movie started a bit too slowly, but did gain a nice bit of momentum as it progressed. The way the movie's plot secret segued nicely into a well written ending was something I enjoyed. I particularly liked the scene in the jazz club, I thought it added a nice piece of feeling to the overall production. However, I still can't picture Jennifer Lopez as a tough city street cop in Chicago. That was a very tough sell for me. All in all a decent picture, worthy of a respectable 7.

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Bridget, she's not perfect, but...

[9/10 · 18 May 2001]

Before I begin my review, I must admit I am a big fan of English comedy movies. Renee Zellweger was absolutely wonderful in this movie. Her English accent was dead on the target. In fact, I saw the movie with some friends from the U.K., and they complimented her endlessly on her performance. Hugh Grant and Colin Firth were ideal as Bridget's love interests. I enjoyed this movie from start to finish, and I think it deserves a solid 9. I wish more movies had the heart this one did.

Town & Country (2001)

It's Annie Hall meets Dick Tracy !

[6/10 · 18 May 2001]

Where shall I begin ? How about the beginning, and the very first - and in my humble opinion the best scene in the movie. As the opening credits clear, we are in a bedroom with Warren Beatty relaxing in bed, and Natassja Kinski playing her cello in the nude. At this point I felt the movie was going places, far better places than I would soon see. The main criticism I have of this film is that it was a bit too fragmented. The story line jumped far too quickly, and far too often. I believe that all of the main players were well cast in their roles, but I think both Andie MacDowell and Jenna Elfman's parts could have had a bit more bite to them, not to mention a bit more screen time.

Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton were their usual top notch actresses, but I found Warren Beatty's performance a bit flat. I'm not sure if I would rush out to see this movie again, judge for yourself - I think it might make for a good DVD rental on a rainy day.

Men of Honor (2000)

Both a touching and heroic movie.

[8/10 · 15 November 2000]

As I watched this movie, and I began to see its' characters develop I could feel this would be an excellent picture. When you get that feeling, and the movie indeed fills those expectations the experience is rare. I had that very feeling throughout this movie. Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding Junior played riveting and amazingly strong parts which were both Oscar worthy. The supporting cast was equally as strong creating a winning foundation for the picture to grow on. I can say without any hesitation at all, see this movie it will not disappoint.

Charlie's Angels (2000)

High tech angels...

[3/10 · 7 November 2000]

I'm afraid the recipe for this film is rather simple my fellow movie-goers. Just take one part Austin Powers, and a shovel full of a bad martial arts movie, and voila! you have Charlie's Angels - the movie. Imagine this if you can, this flock of Angels make even the television series seem believable. These "halo sporting honeys" have more gadgets and lives than every James Bond movie combined. One saving grace however is Bill Murray's adaptation of "Bosley". Murray gave his character a fresh identity, and was the only heavenly piece of this otherwise awful movie. How many wings do these Angels get on our scale of 1-10 ? Charlie gets 3.

Lucky Numbers (2000)

This is one lottery to avoid !

[3/10 · 31 October 2000]

Nothing says scheming television weather man like John Travolta. Trust me, my sarcasm is well warranted. This movie misses the mark terribly. Even a cast featuring John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow could not make this picture worth seeing. The plot was overly simplistic at best, accompanied by an ending that can best be explained as lazy and incomplete. I left the theatre with only one question, What has happened to John Travolta's choice of movie roles ? Does anyone remember "Battlefield Earth" ? Need I say more...

Pay It Forward (2000)

Buy a ticket, this one is wonderful !

[10/10 · 26 October 2000]

Pay It Forward is a magnificent movie that you will not want to miss. "Forward" is an inspirational and touching movie that should garner three or more Academy Award nominations. The three main characters portrayed by Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment were all acted flawlessly. The emotions you will experience while watching this wonderful movie will be more real than you can imagine. From the very start of the movie, to the all to real ending you will feel you are not just watching the show, but that you're a part of the film. Simply stated this picture is the best I have seen this year.