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Reviews
The BBC Television Shakespeare: Measure for Measure (1979)
A Good Job Overall
If you want to see a straight, rigorously faithful adaptation of this not often read or studied play, please watch this version. The play itself is one of the best kept secrets in the Shakespeare cannon. The costumes are colorful and interesting and the sets (though the budget was clearly not hugely substantial) really flesh out aspects of the play you typically miss when reading it. The acting is fine, particularly from Lucio, Pompey (the clown), and the Provost. I will admit that the actor who played the Duke could have put more emotion behind what he was saying, though he did a good job. As a side note, he played Admiral Piett in Star Wars Ep. V & VI (I just thought that was interesting and funny). True this is a kind of no frills version, but, in my opinion, many of the modern 'adaptations' of Shakespeare's plays are weak because people of our age forget the unequivocally beautiful and startlingly profound language that Shakespeare abounded in. He truly offers metaphors that are profound and universal; if you wish to hear this powerful language spoken in a convincing and effective manner, please watch Measure for Measure.
The Cell (2000)
Underrated Movie
The way that The Cell was always described to me was that it had good cinematography but bad everything else. Well, now that I've actually viewed it I can state that the above statement is not entirely true. Firstly, the cinematography is otherworldly. The special effects, the lighting, the makeup, the costumes are all absolutely amazing. I cannot stress this fact enough. I knew that this movie was going to look excellent but my expectations on that matter were far exceeded. The interior of a schizophrenics mind is portrayed precisely how you would imagine his mind would look like. This entails very grotesque and bizarre moments that essentially make this movie. Secondly, I will admit that there is some poor dialog scattered throughout this film and there is some decidedly wooden acting (Mrs. Lopez can be thanked for that) but all in all the plot moves quickly and is intriguing, not too dissimilar to a taut episode CSI . It is the root that keeps this film in balance, so it does not stray into mere absurdity. The crime/thriller backbone plot (however, edge-of-your seat captivating it is) is merely a background for the real insanity that is the topography of the killer's mind. I think this movie did poorly when it was released because it did not have a proper audience that would come and see it but, none the less, I think most people who will give this criminally underrated movie a chance will enjoy it like I did.
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007)
With low (very low) expectations, this movie can be quite enjoyable
I'm a big fan of both the Alien and Predator series (Alien, Aliens, and Predator our three films that I hold near and dear to my heart). Now, I'm sure anyone on here has seen or knows about the AVP:R. They're made simply to make money by via the bastardizing of a known franchise by the means of cheap action and violence. However, this film is quite entertaining if you go into the theater just wanting to be entertained by a pointless film for an hour and a half. Me and my brother were laughing at the clichés riddled throughout the film and the action sequences were done nicely (mind you this is no Indiana Jones or T2 though). I know that FOX is spoiling something I love but I honestly don't care. People are going to point out plot holes, bad writing, etc. But honestly, if you go to this movie NOT expecting that you need to seriously wake up. I went to turn of my brain for a while and look at the pictures of aliens beating the shiit out of each other and I was satisfied.
P.S. I'm not some stupid guy who thinks that 300 is the greatest movie ever made ha (Actually, Chinatown deserves that honor in my opinion)
BloodRayne (2005)
Uwe Boll=Comic Genius
Recently, some friends and I have been hosting "bad movie nights". Basically, we find movies that are so utterly horrendous in all movie rites i.e. acting, script, directions, etc. that they become so bad, they're good. And by good I mean hysterically funny. So far we've watched three Uwe Boll films. That's right, you guessed it BloodRayne, House of the Dead, and Alone in the Dark, all three terrible turds of a movie but all three unintentionally comedies of the highest caliber. BloodRayne is an absolute travesty of a film. The anachronisms are too many to point out, the acting...well, the acting can't be described in mere words, I'll just leave it at that. The screenplay is rubbish. Uwe Boll is a very bad director but I'm beginning to have a sick likening of him. It's so obvious he just wants an action packed movie with blood and cool fights, but even there he fails miserable but that is where the hilarity takes over. I highly recommend watching this movie with some pals, and riffing on it MST3K style.
I give it an 9 out of 10 in comedic value.
Hannibal Rising (2007)
Boring and Unrewarding Turkey passed as movies nowadays
*Warning* Do NOT see this garbage labeled a film. The acting is some of the most campy I've yet to see. The dialogue is almost as bad. I can't believe Thomas Harris wrote the screenplay for this turkey! Everything that comes from the character's mouth's are pure rubbish. Anyone who had some high school education could have written a better screenplay. I haven't read the source material and I do not plan on doing so. Everything about this film was done in such a trite manner. Simple scares, poor directing, unsatisfying, clichés through and through. Big studios are simply trying to milk the Lecter cash cow. If you want a very simple revenge, 1-D, movie, by all means, see it. It is one of the least rewarding films I've seen on the silver screen. Total waste of time.