mikehammond8 Reviews

I Spy (2002)

Unless your thinking of visiting Budapest, this is not worth the time

[4/10 · 18 July 2006]

Another pretty lame sidekick movie from two actors who are normally very good. The problem is that Owen Wilson does Owen Wilson very well and Eddie Murphy does Eddie Murphy just as well, but all with very few actual jokes. Interesting to see it filmed on location in Budapest as, at the time of writing this review, I had just visited the city and was pleased to see many of the sights I had visited just weeks before. Other than this the excitement, which should be top draw for a spy movie (even a spoof one), never really appeared and both script and plot are thin and poor. Wilson and Murphy do well playing themselves with very little to work with but I doubt they'll be listing it as one of their career best. If you want spoof espionage stick to Austin Powers.

Whale Rider (2002)

Simply one of the most wonderful films you will ever see

[10/10 · 18 July 2006]

There are those films that everyone should see. There are those that everyone should own. Then there are those that everyone should cherish. Whale Rider is all of these. Breathtakingly emotional, beautifully heartbreaking and wonderfully funny, this outstanding film deserves much more recognition than the lone best actress Oscar nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes. This brilliant young girl should have received the award for the speech scene alone. Simply an excellent story by Witi Ihimaera, adapted perfectly for the screen by Niki Caro, casted with genius by Diana Rowan, acted magnificently by all the actors, completed with a hauntingly stunning score by Lisa Gerrard. Every now and then a film comes along that makes the world a better place to live in. Whale Rider does this. Watch it now.

Running Scared (2006)

Paul Walker needs career advice. The writer/director needs to be locked up and forgotten about.

[1/10 · 17 July 2006]

I was recommended this film by a friend who works for a video rental company. Now, despite this friend being a bit of a hit and miss recommender he has really scraped the bottom of a deep barrel with this one. I wasn't about to expect much with Paul Walker above the title but this has got to be his worst. I know. That's saying something. Even if you are a Paul Walker fan (is there such thing? Teenage girls need not answer) YOU MUST NOT SEE THIS FILM. You REALLY must not see this film. You will walk away distraught that you wasted 110 minutes of your life you will never, ever retrieve. The acting is lame, the script is poor even for the most B of B movies and the plot is so ugly and laughable you will not know whether to collapse in a fit of vomiting or mirth. The filming technique occasionally becomes a bit arty as the director tries to be stylish and profound. Instead it comes off as messy and dismal. Also there is a completely pointless and detached section in the middle that will have you scratching your heads and questioning if you actually saw what you saw (the kidnap section). The director is clearly trying to make a point here but…god help him…words escape me…pathetic. Altogether this is an awful film and I'm only giving it one star because I have to. Please do not watch this movie. Hopefully, if no one watches it might just go away. Well that's what I'm going to wish for next time I blow out my birthday candles.

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Nice one Bruce. And the rest.

[8/10 · 17 July 2006]

Impressively cast, well acted, funny and cleverly written dark comedy that is definitely worth a look. Keeping company with legends such as Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis (who has been taking more and more great roles recently), Josh Hartnett takes the lead in the title role and plays it well. Freeman and Kingsley are as ever faultless and brilliant. Willis is fantastic in this kind of role. The dark, understated, non-action-blockbuster, big cast thrillers suit him well. Keep it up Bruce. To top off this top-notcher, Lucy Lui is looking gorgeous in her role as the love interest. I look forward to watching more films by Paul McGuigan, a director I'd previously been unaware of. Rent it as soon as you can.

The Man (2005)

Not their best. Not by far.

[4/10 · 17 July 2006]

If Samuel L. Jackson is going to insist on doing comedy he should stick to the dark kind like Pulp Fiction. As for Eugene Levy, he is not bad as the sidekick but he has done some vastly better comedies. If you want to watch a truly great comedy with Eugene Levy then skip this along with any of the American Pie sequels and rent, nay buy, the Christopher Guest (the genius behind This Is Spinal Tap) movies A Mighty Wind, Best in Show and Waiting For Guffman. In comparison, The Man falls embarrassingly short. A tired, run-of-the-mill script and plot that have been flogged to death by Hollywood. Stick to action, Samuel. Stick with Christopher, Eugene.

Charlie (2004)

Another kick in the teeth for British film

[1/10 · 17 July 2006]

I think those reviewers who gave this pathetic effort more than one star must have been watching a different version to the one I watched. Even one star is a stretch. Quite frankly if this is the standard we can expect from the British Film industry then no wonder it doesn't do as well as we all hope. The acting was shocking, the script was pathetic (if your offended by profanity leave this off your list - the F or C word must have appeared in every other sentence. And despite the film's subject this was completely OTT), and the plot progression laughable. But then what can you really expect from a movie starring one of the Goss twins, Dirty Den and Brian May's Mrs? Oh and why the hell did Steven Berkoff agree to do this?!!!