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jam145
Reviews
Road House (2024)
Breaks its own rules
SPOILERS
The first half of the film is great- fun action, jerks that deserve to get beaten up getting beat up, the mma fighter that could clearly beat up anyone doing so with some humor. He asks guys if they have insurance brute he knocks their teeth out, drives them to the hospital, and is generally kind. He even goes out of his way to say he's not a nice person because he once went too far in the ring an (apparently) killed a guy. So he's a fighter that is aware of his rage and doesn't want it to get out of hand.
Then halfway through the movie they decide to throw away this self control and make him start killing people. Like actually murdering people with no remorse. Everything that made him likable goes out the window.
In the end the good guys win so I guess it shows that ultra violence is fine of you're the good guy. If only they had stuck to his rules from the beginning of making him take care of his opponents, he would've learned a real lesson and the movie would've had some internal logic that held it together. Instead it turns into an over the top action movie with big explosions. It's almost like watching 2 different films.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Read the reviews - they are not lying
All of the low reviews on here hit the points accurately. No plot. No care. Nothing riding on it. No interest. The movie happens at you. Not engaging.
Like playing a video game but you can't play the game you only get to watch the cut scenes between levels. So much dialogue, and none of it useful.
It's like the worst part of Indiana Jones 4 meets the worst of the Star Wars prequels.
Its like going in expecting bullet time and instead getting a high end fan film.
Would have been much better at 60 min less.
The Revenant (2015)
Great on the technicals
The production quality of this film is amazing: Locations, conditions, editing, acting. It's a slow film, and conveys emotions. It takes you into another world with crisp details and beautiful camera work.
The flip side is that it leaves you feeling... empty? At least not satisfied. Definitely not happy. This is a hero's journey, but he doesn't reach redemption. He seeks after something, overcoming adversity(!!) at every step, on sheer grit alone. But in the end he reaches his goal, and you don't feel happy for him. It's hard to watch a movie 2.5 hours long with the spanning visuals and locations- you literally become part of the trip- and then not feel good at the end. And the rub is that because it's such a BIG feeling film, the at best neutral finish, or at worst negative finish is multiplied 10-fold. It feels like a downer. It feels pessimistic.
Again, there are plenty of positives to the film and I'd still recommend it, but it's a hard journey to go on just for the sake of seeing it.
Mysterious Island (2010)
Read the Book
If you are expecting to see a great adaptation that is faithful to the book by Jules Verne (as the title implies), do not watch this film.
If you want to see the book by Jules Verne mashed up with time-travel elements from "Lost," but done on a shoestring budget and without any character development, do watch this film.
I might have given it 4/10 except that is it that disrespectful to the classic novel and is almost unable to capture anything worthwhile from the book. Had they stuck to the original story instead of treating it as a stepping off point, the film would have been greatly improved. As it is, it's a b-movie with hokey SFX that is left this viewer greatly unsatisfied.
Facing the Giants (2006)
Unexpected
I'll just say that I was genuinely surprised by this film. Whereas I approach most Christian films and expect nothing, this film actually delivered a good piece of work, worthy of the viewer's time and money! And when I found out that this had been put together by a church... well that is just downright amazing.
Thank you to the production team for having the aptitude to conceive this and pull it off. You give Christian film a good name.
As for the people that want to say this film is overtly Christian and they are put off by it, well, that's too be understood. But please don't say the story lacks in plot. This movie pulls off the "feel good sports" concept much better and in a much more meaningful way than "Miracle," "Glory Road," or any other "fill in the blank Disney cliché title." Take it for what it is- a good family film with a positive message, one that you'll probably hear again at some point I'm sure (because it's important!).
Holes (2003)
A decent story, but just a bit off in execution
I just read one review praising this film, and let me say that I don't agree. To put it concisely, HOLES is a good story, full of imagination, multiple generations and stories interlocking, and nice happy ending. However, the execution of it was just a bit off. From the casting to the way some scenes were shot, it just felt almost right at best. A lot of the cast seemed to be miscast and much of the dialogue and character interaction seemed forced and too scripted. And as much as I might have thought it cool at that age, when the movie tries to paint these Jr High boys as cool and tough and all this nickname stuff, it just comes off lame. The kid who steals cars? Can he even reach the pedals? That essentially sums up my problems with the film. (and with Rick Fox in there, well that just shows the caliber of the film!)
Michael Jordan: Come Fly with Me (1989)
The classic Jordan highlight reel. The best there is.
If you are an NBA fan at all and find yourself listening to people trying to make an argument for some up and coming young player who is better than Michael Jordan- pop this DVD in and take notes on why they are wrong. Some of the things that Jordan does on this video are unbelievable.
It is the classic highlight reel of the young Jordan (all pre-championship days) just dominating anyone who steps in his path- literally jumping over people and dunking on people like they disrespected his mother. The best part is that b/c this collection is from his fourth year, they don't have to cover as much time and can basically just show all of his amazing stuff from 86-87 when he averaged 37.1 pts/game along with a handful of steals and blocks.
Once you have seen this movie you will remember why Jordan was so good, even before he went on to get 6 championships. Then you can tell all of those fools who think that Jordan was never good b/c he isn't as good right now as he used to be that they just need to refresh their memories a bit. Its just that simple.
Great video, and a lot of fun to watch. Air Jordan wearing sweet shoes to boot.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Great details, but somewhat of a let down
This movie was great, thanks to the incredible attention to detail by the director. From costumes to sets to gang members actions, Scorsese put a lot of time into recreating the era and people who would have been there. That is the most impressive part, the believability of being in this old world. Daniel Day Lewis was amazing. Leonard DiCaprio was alright. But the supporting actors had the toughest jobs on the set of filling the story in around these two, and I think they did a fine job. All of this build up, however, leaves the audience wanting something more, and I think the movie never quite lives up to the standard it seems to set for itself. It is almost anticlimactic in spite of the finale, and it is too bad it didn't find that missing element that would've secured its place as a modern-masterpiece. Even as it stands, though, it is a very good film, and a testament to Scorsese's talent as a director putting a great deal of thought and energy into creating a world in which to tell a story. (as a side-note, to whoever said this movie was for anyone who likes stupid, it is best not to use the word "stoled" in your argument, as that word does not exist).
Bandits (2001)
Funny, but looonnnggg
Bandits was clever. It delivered good acting on a fun script. Many scenes were very humorous. Unfortunately, the movie hits a lull in the middle portion which causes the viewer to forget about the funny beginning and pray for a good ending. If only they could have taken a half-hour out, they would have had a superb film. Billy Bob Thornton was great.
American Pie 2 (2001)
Definitely a Sequel
If a movie does well enough to get a sequel, you would think that means the writers are good enough to come up with more material, no problem. With this movie, though, they didn't.
American Pie 2 was probably the weakest of sequels in a summer full of sequels. The jokes are the same, maybe changed just a little. The characters have nothing no new motivations- they are all just battling the same things as in the first movie. From Stifler's mom to parents catching Jim in personal moments, the sequel steals, er, "borrows" from American Pie 1 without a second thought.
The result? One dumb movie. First of all, Jason Biggs (Jim) is horrible to watch. You just want to punch him for being so stupid. The scene where he plays the trombone? Not the least bit funny. People laughed- WHY? Finch is annoying as ever, constantly speaking like he is 50- not in a funny way- but in a really bothersome way that sees him featured for a good part of the movie when he is better as a supporting character- a very small supporting character. Kevin is a pointless character, he doesn't do anything except talk to his old girlfriend Vicki the whole time, constantly asking her to "Catch up and hang out." This also means Vicky is a waste of time, as is Oz, who somehow became a complete neutered male from the beginning of the first film. He is an entirely different person even from the end of that one- does anyone care? Jessica and Heather- great to see people from the first one, but do they add anything? No.
The only thing this movie does is play Stifler well. He essentially has to strap the movie on his back and carry it because everyone else is boring. How does he do this? He says the F-word- a lot. This even loses humor after 50 times, so by the end you wish you never spent the 6.50 to watch this junk. The worst part is when the opening scene runs and people have seen the previews and still laugh very hard- why, people? It doesn't make sense. Out of all of the scenes in the movie the audience has definitely seen that before.
AND YET, between the predictable script, the rerun jokes, the low brow bail out humor (guys kissing, football down low, little kid swearing, monkey drinking alcohol), and the painful acting of Jason Biggs, American pie 2 will somehow make a lot of money. It makes you wonder....
IF they make a third one, I hope they invest a little time in writing characters that we care about and get rid of characters we don't (Shermanator, Jessica, etc.). Be new and inventive, just don't insult us by showing us the first movie with a different title. 1.5 STARS