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Lazzarith
Reviews
The Guild (2007)
OMG! It's my guild on film (LMAO)
Self directed, produced, written and even acted by many of the cast, this series of shorts brings life of online role playing games and the culture it carries to light in such a hilarious manner. I couldn't help but laugh at every episode and try to see another guild member of mine in The Guild's characters. I was in stitches from the first episode and couldn't stop watching until the season(s) were over. Fantastic acting with humor that is original. Not just original in the sense of hey they went somewhere else with that... ABSOLUTELY original, like when someone finally invented the wheel. There is nothing like it.
If you know of someone, heard of someone, or you are that someone that plays Role Playing Games online, no matter the title of the game, you will see yourself in one of these character, or even a bit of yourself in all of them. I am amazed at how they zoned into the in-game language used and managed to depict life under a headset so well. If you cannot laugh at this series, then I doubt there is anything you would find humorous.
Time well spent!!!!!
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Exceptionally Moving Experience
The setting for this movie is Europe during WWII. A German officer who commands a nearby camp for Jewish prisoners lives with his family on the fringe of the camp. The story is through the eyes of the young son of the German Officer. Surprisingly, I found this movie had a fresh take on a WWII setting that so many movies before have taken. Keeping true to the novel, this movie does what so few movies can do well - Give you an Exceptionally Moving Experience Emotionally. You feel as if you have experienced the War through the young boys eyes.
You will be left speechless by the end of this movie. I can only recommend you watch this movie, as few words can adequately describe how you will feel upon completion of this movie. I would recommend everyone in high school to watch this movie, and would suggest parents to watch this with middle school children.
It is a powerfully emotional movie and will raise some questions in your children. If anything good comes of it, they will feel the shame as a human and the heartache resulting from wars running wild.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
30 years later and still worth watching again
A fantastic movie that has endured the test of time. Fine acting, and for the time, special effects that were enjoyable. If you are one of the 200 people on this 3rd planet that haven't seen Close Encounters of the Third kind, then do so now. It is one of my few must see movies of all time.
It is simply fantastic for the entire family. Regardless of age, its an uplifting movie for all. This movie allows us, even today to question, "Is there anyone out there?"
30 years later and I find this movie worth watching every year. I'm almost certain my personal tradition of watching this movie every year will continue for another 30 years. It is one of the God Fathers of Science-Fiction movies of the modern era.
Rescue Dawn (2006)
What were they saying?
Many movies were made in the 80's and 90's about POW's of the Vietnam War, and This one about a downed pilot in Laos is not much different. It runs the same cookie cutter plan of a military guy serving, attempts to avoid capture, gets captured, is treated poorly, plans an escape, escapes, and finally reunited at the end with civilization. No surprise here. I'm sure his real life struggle was amazing but it is obvious there are flaws and changes in the movie script that were much different than the facts.
What troubles me is when a movie opens the first scene with a claim that it is based on true story, and in the end they include the disclaimer about any other similarities in the movie are purely coincidental. Is it based on a true story or not. Or did they twist the facts so much they had to include that in "HOPES" they would not be sued for slander on how they portrayed some of the characters.
Get past the lack of facts, cause even the producers called everything in the movie (except the fact that there was a pilot who became a POW and managed to escape) a coincidence. Get past the fact that over half of the movie's dialog is presented in whispering, making it very hard to understand and often annoying. And you might find this one as a time killer. Worth watching to pass the time but not to plan an evening around.
Hot Rod (2007)
A movie without direction lead by a writing staff with the humor of high schoolers
I'm most certain there will be those that slam me for giving only a 4 to this movie, but I must be honest here, it is not for everyone. The humor in this movie is a bit on the edgy side (I would place it in the same category as Blades of Glory (2007) and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). If you are not a fan of that kind of humor then stay clear of this movie. It's not for you. There are 2 movie posters for this movie and the animated drawing would have been more suitable. I watched this movie based on the image found at http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41exG5pWihL._SS500_.jpg without knowing too much about this movie.
Granted, most websites that review this movie (imdb included) show the animated version. If you enjoy movies such as Airplane, Then perhaps you might find this one enjoyable. But I must warn you, the comedy is poor, almost as if it were written by a 10th grader. I believe the audience for this movie will be teenagers. Find something on TV, even a rerun or do a crossword puzzle to kill time. Don't adventure past this review if what I have described as a turn off fits you.
HOWEVER! If you did enjoy some of the other like-comedies that I've listed, then yes, you may very well enjoy this movie and for those, yes, I would recommend it. Unfortunately I don't fall into this category and must give it a 4 out of 10.