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DeathtotheKKK21
Reviews
Avatar (2009)
Overrated...
This film...a visual masterpiece, stunning and glorious...is nevertheless one of the most overrated films I have come across. There has never been anything like it from a special effects standpoint, but the story has been done before - many, many times, and a good deal better. My problems with this film all fall into the realm of character development. Or, more truthfully, the lack thereof. No emotional arcs, no character development...I knew 15 minutes into the film exactly how it was going to go. I knew who would be on which side, I even had a pretty solid guess who was going to die. I was so frustrated because as much effort as Cameron clearly put into the visual aspects of the film, he should have devoted as much to the story. This film had potential to be one of the greatest ever...instead, it is simply the next in a long line of visually impressive films that will fall by the wayside once something brighter and flashier comes along. Definitely watch it, feast on the visuals, but if you want this story...go watch Dances With Wolves or The Last Samurai. They give much better execution of the theme.
The Room (2003)
Worst movie ever...in all the best ways.
This movie is hard to explain. It is without a doubt one of if not THE worst movie I have ever seen. Yet, somehow, it is easily one of my favorite films ever. It makes me laugh every time I see it. The dialogue is so incompetently written that even if the actors were any good, it would be terrible. Tommy Wiseau, the writer, director, producer, and star, has an indefinable screen presence, though no talent. The other actors are dull and mediocre. The laughs come from so many sources...the subplots that are introduced and never mentioned again, the prop inconsistencies, Tommy's terrible accent, the lines that were clearly dubbed in after the filming was done (out of sync with the lips), and the bizarre exchanges between characters. My personal favorite is when Mark tells Johnny a story about a girl he knew that would cheat, and got beat up by one of the guys so bad she ended up in a hospital, to which Johnny laughs heartily and replies, "What a story, Mark!" From beginning to end, this film is a train wreck you can't (and shouldn't) avert your eyes from. Enjoy!
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993)
A nostalgic classic
I have to say, I grew up watching this series, and looking back all these years later, it might be the cheesiest show I watched growing up. That aside, though, the nostalgia makes it enjoyable. The plots are nil, the special effects are bad, and the costumes are ridiculous. Somehow, though, it has a charm that appeals to kids. Both my boys love the Power Rangers, even though there's so many shows out there that are better in technical ways. The original Power Rangers series has a classic good vs. bad feel to it, and the characters are very appealing. They make you want to root for them. Now that I'm all grown up, I can enjoy the guilty pleasure of saying yes when my kids want to watch it.
Under the Cherry Moon (1986)
Very very Prince
This is a fantastic film....if you have the sensibilities to appreciate it. This movie is very very defined by Prince. Rightly so, too, as he is the director and star. To really appreciate this film, though, you have to be able to delve into and appreciate Prince's eccentricities. Prince is absolutely a brilliant artist, but it takes more than liking his music to like this movie. He has a singular sense of humor, and it comes through loud and clear. This is one of the most quotable movies of all time (though sadly you can't quote it because few people have seen the film), and Prince and Jerome both have impeccable comedic timing. If you like off-the-wall humor with a very stylistic backdrop you should love "Under the Cherry Moon".
C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004)
Amazing!
This may be the most thought-provoking, intelligent, and courageous films it has ever been my pleasure to watch. As someone who feels very strongly about racism in America, I was curious what would be portrayed. What I found was a very clever social satire that was able to find humor without being silly and losing touch with the message it was trying to pass on. It was not preachy or heavy-handed, and it was effective at using the most devastating tool someone trying to get a message across can bring to bear--using humor to open people up to new ideas. The filmmaker's ability to bring parallels of actual historical events and give them that slight twist to make them believable in this alternate universe was wonderful. This is both an educational and entertaining film, and I recommend it HIGHLY to anyone, but especially anyone who would argue that racism is an issue of the past.