While not an exciting action packed movie, Conviction starring Hilary Swank as Betty Anne Waters is so far one of the most riveting stories I've seen hit the movie theatres this year.
It follows the true story of how Betty Anne Waters set about on a major life quest to try and exonerate her brother Kenneth Waters for murder.
Won't spoil the ending here for you as I recommend it for the theatre.
It's amazing how often police zero in on one suspect and almost get tunnel vision to the exclusion of any other possibilities, people get rail roaded - witnesses and suspects.
This is a movie that could be done close to a thousand times - or how many innocent lives get ruined by over zealous police and prosecutors.
How does a murder victim's family trust in a system that so often gets it wrong?
Sorry for the political commentary but these are things to think about.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Red movie review
Hello and welcome back to my blog.
Red - a fun movie, basically an Action/Comedy. Using one liners similar to how Bond used after whacking people.
The only complaint I would have is that the set up between Willis's character and his love interest in the movie started off a little slow making the movie seemingly drag. To start an action movie in that manner I didn't think was good.
Other than that the action sequences and shoot'em up scenes were done really good. And the movie as a whole was entertaining to watch.
Red - a fun movie, basically an Action/Comedy. Using one liners similar to how Bond used after whacking people.
The only complaint I would have is that the set up between Willis's character and his love interest in the movie started off a little slow making the movie seemingly drag. To start an action movie in that manner I didn't think was good.
Other than that the action sequences and shoot'em up scenes were done really good. And the movie as a whole was entertaining to watch.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Buried
A movie about a man, Paul Conroy, taken hostage in Iraq and buried alive for ransom. As most of you know from watching the trailers.
One of the challenges in a movie like this with one location, see Phone Booth and Rear Window for good examples of this, is how to keep it interesting being in only one location. With Phone booth and Rear Window there were other actors on the screen. With Buried, Ryan Reynolds is the only actor you see through much of the movie. Everyone else was done off screen.
The tension must be kept up, with a deadline, get the money by 9PM or he's left to die.
And wow was this such an amazing job. Ryan Reynolds was awesome. You can definitely feel his terror of being in the situation.
A great film, definitely one of my favorites of the year. A must see movie. If you liked Phone Booth and Rear Window, you'll love this movie.
One of the challenges in a movie like this with one location, see Phone Booth and Rear Window for good examples of this, is how to keep it interesting being in only one location. With Phone booth and Rear Window there were other actors on the screen. With Buried, Ryan Reynolds is the only actor you see through much of the movie. Everyone else was done off screen.
The tension must be kept up, with a deadline, get the money by 9PM or he's left to die.
And wow was this such an amazing job. Ryan Reynolds was awesome. You can definitely feel his terror of being in the situation.
A great film, definitely one of my favorites of the year. A must see movie. If you liked Phone Booth and Rear Window, you'll love this movie.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Let Me In
Prior to seeing this movie I thought I had my fill of vampire movies. I was wrong. Mainly because it wasn't really a movie about vampires. Or more specifically the vampire character could have been any type of character.
The movie was really about two isolated children, one the age of twelve, one who has been "twelve for a very long time." They develop a close relationship from their loneliness.
The vampire's isolation is obvious - she can't let anybody know who and what she is. The boy's isolation from being the small kid bullied in school.
The parts that were old hat for vampire movies is the police are always searching for a serial killer in the area. And this becomes a problem where you're supposed to root for the characters. How do you sympathize with a murderer even if their lonely and isolated?
It would be easier to sympathize with a vampire that does everything it can to avoid killing people and instead kills rats or anything else while helping the boy find strength to stand up for himself.
But other than that the movie was good, definitely fun to see in the theater.
The movie was really about two isolated children, one the age of twelve, one who has been "twelve for a very long time." They develop a close relationship from their loneliness.
The vampire's isolation is obvious - she can't let anybody know who and what she is. The boy's isolation from being the small kid bullied in school.
The parts that were old hat for vampire movies is the police are always searching for a serial killer in the area. And this becomes a problem where you're supposed to root for the characters. How do you sympathize with a murderer even if their lonely and isolated?
It would be easier to sympathize with a vampire that does everything it can to avoid killing people and instead kills rats or anything else while helping the boy find strength to stand up for himself.
But other than that the movie was good, definitely fun to see in the theater.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Devil
What can I say?
Other than Shyamalan is back.
Devil was a fun movie to watch and it is true, according to the movie that "bad things happen for a reason." The reason won't be revealed here so as not to ruin it for you.
The five people trapped in an elevator, perfect place to trap people and create tension. No one there knows who the murderer is.
A cop who has a connection to one of them is leading the investigation after the first one gets injured.
The movie had the Shyamalan twist that's out of the blue. Definitely a fun movie to watch. Go see it in the theater.
Other than Shyamalan is back.
Devil was a fun movie to watch and it is true, according to the movie that "bad things happen for a reason." The reason won't be revealed here so as not to ruin it for you.
The five people trapped in an elevator, perfect place to trap people and create tension. No one there knows who the murderer is.
A cop who has a connection to one of them is leading the investigation after the first one gets injured.
The movie had the Shyamalan twist that's out of the blue. Definitely a fun movie to watch. Go see it in the theater.
The Town
The second heist movie I've seen in a month. The previous one of course was Takers. This one of course is The Town.
Ben Affleck did a good job as the Director of the movie. Lucky for him that gave him the ability to make himself the main character in the movie which means he gets the beautiful woman. While comparable to Heat it still didn't quite match up to it. I don't think one ever will.
With Heat you had amazing performances by all the actors in the movie. With The Town they were all good but the best performance I would tip my hat to Jeremy Renner. He played the most convincing thug that followed the rules of the neighborhood. The same idea behind Steven Seagall's movie Out For Justice. Not that there's any type of realistic comparison between the two films.
Also in this one they focused on the main criminal's relationship with the women in his life, with Heat it was on all of their relationships with their wives/girlfriends with the main one being on the failing relationship of the main detective.
The only problem I have with the movie is that I feel sympathetic and almost rooting for the criminals, I don't like how they show it as an almost glamorous life as though they're doing something justifiable simply because they grew up in a poor neighborhood.
Other than that it was a good movie.
Ben Affleck did a good job as the Director of the movie. Lucky for him that gave him the ability to make himself the main character in the movie which means he gets the beautiful woman. While comparable to Heat it still didn't quite match up to it. I don't think one ever will.
With Heat you had amazing performances by all the actors in the movie. With The Town they were all good but the best performance I would tip my hat to Jeremy Renner. He played the most convincing thug that followed the rules of the neighborhood. The same idea behind Steven Seagall's movie Out For Justice. Not that there's any type of realistic comparison between the two films.
Also in this one they focused on the main criminal's relationship with the women in his life, with Heat it was on all of their relationships with their wives/girlfriends with the main one being on the failing relationship of the main detective.
The only problem I have with the movie is that I feel sympathetic and almost rooting for the criminals, I don't like how they show it as an almost glamorous life as though they're doing something justifiable simply because they grew up in a poor neighborhood.
Other than that it was a good movie.
Monday, September 6, 2010
New Way To Watch Movies
Hello everyone and welcome back again.
For those of you who are not able to get to the theater or rental house but still want to watch movies I have found a way that you can download them online. Legally download them. Know more will you have to worry about any viruses destroying your computer. Nor are you going to have to worry about the cops busting down your door to arrest you for copyright infringement. Click the link or copy and paste it into your browser to get your software and movies.
http://eezoid.isatlink.hop.clickbank.net/?&tid=mreview
For those of you who are not able to get to the theater or rental house but still want to watch movies I have found a way that you can download them online. Legally download them. Know more will you have to worry about any viruses destroying your computer. Nor are you going to have to worry about the cops busting down your door to arrest you for copyright infringement. Click the link or copy and paste it into your browser to get your software and movies.
http://eezoid.isatlink.hop.clickbank.net/?&tid=mreview
Machete Movie Review
Welcome back to my movie review blog. Machete.
Finally after appearing in over two hundred movies, including Heat with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, Danny Trejo finally gets to play the lead man. He teams up again with DeNiro again. He gets all the benefits that go along with it - the biggest of which he gets to hold and kiss the beautiful women Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez. I always thought he would be good at it, and I wasn't wrong. At least the playing the lead he was good at, as far as the kissing goes you'll have to ask Jessica and Michelle about that.
The movie was lots of fun to watch, despite the cliche motivation of Machete, wife and daughter killed he goes psycho and mows everyone down. The difference here is that he didn't do it all single handedly like what you see in a lot of other movies, which made it more realistic.
Steven Seagal as the bad guy was good, probably because he didn't have much screen time in it. DeNiro, what can I say about him? I don't recall him ever playing a bad part. The sign of a good actor he can do anything and make it convincing - he did a good job as the conniving, racist politician.
The action sequences had some of the more fun fight scenes I've ever seen including an entirely original escape scene when he was cornered.
All in all I liked the movie and my verdict is go see it in the theater while you still can.
Finally after appearing in over two hundred movies, including Heat with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, Danny Trejo finally gets to play the lead man. He teams up again with DeNiro again. He gets all the benefits that go along with it - the biggest of which he gets to hold and kiss the beautiful women Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez. I always thought he would be good at it, and I wasn't wrong. At least the playing the lead he was good at, as far as the kissing goes you'll have to ask Jessica and Michelle about that.
The movie was lots of fun to watch, despite the cliche motivation of Machete, wife and daughter killed he goes psycho and mows everyone down. The difference here is that he didn't do it all single handedly like what you see in a lot of other movies, which made it more realistic.
Steven Seagal as the bad guy was good, probably because he didn't have much screen time in it. DeNiro, what can I say about him? I don't recall him ever playing a bad part. The sign of a good actor he can do anything and make it convincing - he did a good job as the conniving, racist politician.
The action sequences had some of the more fun fight scenes I've ever seen including an entirely original escape scene when he was cornered.
All in all I liked the movie and my verdict is go see it in the theater while you still can.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The American Review
Hello and Welcome back.
Today I saw the new George Clooney movie "The American." The movie about a retiring assasin.
It was not what I expected it to be. That wasn't an overly bad thing. I was expecting a real shoot 'em up movie like the Expendables or the Nicolas Cage movie Bangkok Dangerous. If that's the type of movie you're expecting and want to see, this isn't it.
What it The American is, is a slow moving drama that has George Clooney attempting to leave the murder for hire business. In each of the two locations he's sent to he falls in love with a woman - the second one being the cliched hooker with the heart of gold.
If you want a high octane action flick don't waste your money and time. If you want a drama with a character who needs to redeem himself and a love story, definitely go see it.
Today I saw the new George Clooney movie "The American." The movie about a retiring assasin.
It was not what I expected it to be. That wasn't an overly bad thing. I was expecting a real shoot 'em up movie like the Expendables or the Nicolas Cage movie Bangkok Dangerous. If that's the type of movie you're expecting and want to see, this isn't it.
What it The American is, is a slow moving drama that has George Clooney attempting to leave the murder for hire business. In each of the two locations he's sent to he falls in love with a woman - the second one being the cliched hooker with the heart of gold.
If you want a high octane action flick don't waste your money and time. If you want a drama with a character who needs to redeem himself and a love story, definitely go see it.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Last Exrocism
I'm sure you know what the movie is about. A priest who does exorcisms.
This was basically a mashup of The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose shot in a documentary style similar to District 13.
The child being exorcised actually predicted things that would happen later in the movie. While not an overly bad movie I would wait until the DVD release before watching it.
This was basically a mashup of The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose shot in a documentary style similar to District 13.
The child being exorcised actually predicted things that would happen later in the movie. While not an overly bad movie I would wait until the DVD release before watching it.
Takers Movie Review
Takers, in case you didn't get it from the trailer is a heist movie.
The good - the action squences were good. Matt Dillon was in the movie and surprise, surprise he did the best job of all the actors in it.
The bad - it was like Hangover a reworking of a previous movie. But while Hangover, one of the best and my favourite comedies of all time, was an improvement on The Bachelor Party, Takers was not an improvement on Heat. It was an inferior movie. They actually took some dialogue from Heat and used it in the beginning of this movie. If you'll remember in the first initial armored truck robbery Al Pacino's character said to a subordinate, "check the FBI database for aliases Slick. You'll get the phone book, do it anyway."
After the first initial bank robbery Matt Dillon's character says to his subordinates "check the contruction area for fingerprints, you'll gte half the city do it anyway."
Matt Dillon while doing a good job was more or less misused as a cliched role again borrowed from Al Pacino's role - the cop with the failing marriage.
Verdict - Wait for the DVD release.
The good - the action squences were good. Matt Dillon was in the movie and surprise, surprise he did the best job of all the actors in it.
The bad - it was like Hangover a reworking of a previous movie. But while Hangover, one of the best and my favourite comedies of all time, was an improvement on The Bachelor Party, Takers was not an improvement on Heat. It was an inferior movie. They actually took some dialogue from Heat and used it in the beginning of this movie. If you'll remember in the first initial armored truck robbery Al Pacino's character said to a subordinate, "check the FBI database for aliases Slick. You'll get the phone book, do it anyway."
After the first initial bank robbery Matt Dillon's character says to his subordinates "check the contruction area for fingerprints, you'll gte half the city do it anyway."
Matt Dillon while doing a good job was more or less misused as a cliched role again borrowed from Al Pacino's role - the cop with the failing marriage.
Verdict - Wait for the DVD release.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Piranha 3D Movie Review
To review a movie, you have to compare it to others of it genre. Piranha, compared to othes movies that have animals going around eating people like Jaws, Anaconda, Lake Placid, Deep Blue Sea etc.
I hadn't seen a good movie like that since Jaws. Or at least not one that I personally liked. With that I went to this movie expecting it to be bad. I was wrong. It was actually an enjoyable movie. Not quite as good as Jaws, but then can anyone really beat that? It was, however, my favourite of that type of movie since that one.
If you like that type of movie it's definitely one you should see.
the 3D effects were better than other ones I've seen. In fact when you see movies that show people watching a 3D movie and people actually flinch when something comes at them from the screen, that actually happened to me. I won't reveal the scene as I don't want to ruin it for you.
And it actually paid homage to Jaws with Richard Dreyfus at the beginning of them movie recreating a scene from Jaws.
Fun, fun, fun. That's my verdict.
I hadn't seen a good movie like that since Jaws. Or at least not one that I personally liked. With that I went to this movie expecting it to be bad. I was wrong. It was actually an enjoyable movie. Not quite as good as Jaws, but then can anyone really beat that? It was, however, my favourite of that type of movie since that one.
If you like that type of movie it's definitely one you should see.
the 3D effects were better than other ones I've seen. In fact when you see movies that show people watching a 3D movie and people actually flinch when something comes at them from the screen, that actually happened to me. I won't reveal the scene as I don't want to ruin it for you.
And it actually paid homage to Jaws with Richard Dreyfus at the beginning of them movie recreating a scene from Jaws.
Fun, fun, fun. That's my verdict.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Expendables Movie Review
Fresh off the heels of his successful continuation of the Rambo and Rocky movie franchises comes Sylvester Stallone's new movie "The Expendables".
The basic premise of the movie was a group of mercenaries get sent to take out a drug lord/general/president/dictator of a fictional South American island country. The guy was basically a patsy for a rogue CIA/FBI agent.
In the process they figure out they are being double crossed and things aren't what they appeared. The character played by Sly after getting a speech from Mickey Rourke's character about how if he had saved a woman's life one time it would have saved what was left of his soul and perhaps redeemed himself partially for the lives he's taken. This gets Sly to go back to the island to save a woman from the drug lords - he's not doing it for money, he's doing it for love.
If you're looking for some great artistic statement, you won't find it. If you enjoy the old style action, shoot em up movies you'll enjoy it. And if you enjoy martial arts fight sequences, lets just say you won't be disappointed. It's got everything the action move fan enjoys. Lots of gun play, explosions, bust'em fist fights and the guy's eye candy - a hot beautiful woman.
Not to mention Sly brought in the best of the best of action movie stars, both new and old - himself, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Rampage Jackson. What more could you ask for in an action movie?
Go see it in the theater.
The basic premise of the movie was a group of mercenaries get sent to take out a drug lord/general/president/dictator of a fictional South American island country. The guy was basically a patsy for a rogue CIA/FBI agent.
In the process they figure out they are being double crossed and things aren't what they appeared. The character played by Sly after getting a speech from Mickey Rourke's character about how if he had saved a woman's life one time it would have saved what was left of his soul and perhaps redeemed himself partially for the lives he's taken. This gets Sly to go back to the island to save a woman from the drug lords - he's not doing it for money, he's doing it for love.
If you're looking for some great artistic statement, you won't find it. If you enjoy the old style action, shoot em up movies you'll enjoy it. And if you enjoy martial arts fight sequences, lets just say you won't be disappointed. It's got everything the action move fan enjoys. Lots of gun play, explosions, bust'em fist fights and the guy's eye candy - a hot beautiful woman.
Not to mention Sly brought in the best of the best of action movie stars, both new and old - himself, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Rampage Jackson. What more could you ask for in an action movie?
Go see it in the theater.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Inception Review
Hello everyone and welcome back.
It's been awhile since I last posted a movie review, and I apologize but here is my review for Inception.
Quite frankly one of the best movies of the year. The motivation of the main character as played by Leonardo DiCaprio happens to be one of the more unique ones ever done. It kept you guessing until the end why his wife kept showing up in the dreams and why he was damaged the way he is.
It wasn't the typical motivation - make massive amounts of money. Revenge for past wrongs, father save daughter/son, husband save wife that has been done numerous times over and over again.
And like other reviews said don't blink. Definitely a go see in the theater, and IMAX screen if possible.
It's been awhile since I last posted a movie review, and I apologize but here is my review for Inception.
Quite frankly one of the best movies of the year. The motivation of the main character as played by Leonardo DiCaprio happens to be one of the more unique ones ever done. It kept you guessing until the end why his wife kept showing up in the dreams and why he was damaged the way he is.
It wasn't the typical motivation - make massive amounts of money. Revenge for past wrongs, father save daughter/son, husband save wife that has been done numerous times over and over again.
And like other reviews said don't blink. Definitely a go see in the theater, and IMAX screen if possible.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Legion Review
Legion:
The verdict, not a bad movie. It was entertaining. Not one of the best I've seen so far this year.
The fight sequence between the Archangel Gabriel and The Archangel Michael was different. I won't spoil the surprise here.
Another movie with some religious overtones but it isn't rammed down your throat or preaching like it gets to tell people how to live.
Just a good fun two hours or less on a day off from work.
The verdict, not a bad movie. It was entertaining. Not one of the best I've seen so far this year.
The fight sequence between the Archangel Gabriel and The Archangel Michael was different. I won't spoil the surprise here.
Another movie with some religious overtones but it isn't rammed down your throat or preaching like it gets to tell people how to live.
Just a good fun two hours or less on a day off from work.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Book of Eli Review
The Book of Eli
In a word - awesome.
I can't remember a single movie that Denzel Washington has done where he was ever bad. That says something. Despite the fact that this sort of thing has been done - the lone traveller in a post apocalyptic world - it was done extremely well. I didn't get the feeling that I was watching another take on The Road Warrior - even though it was.
Definitely an entertaining movie to watch and a recommendation to go see in theater.
While it did have a religious theme to it - normally I don't like that - it wasn't rammed down your throat like it normally is. And you didn't really see that until towards the end.
As far as post melt down movies go (a la Mad Max), definitely one of the better ones - probably because of Denzel. Resolutely destroys Waterworld and The Postman.
That's my review.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Avatar Review
Last night I saw Avatar and I must say Wow, Wow, Wow. Visually this movie is probably the best I've ever seen. James Cameron continually comes up with new and amazing ways to make movies. I hope more and more movies are made in 3D.
The story line is basic - indigenous people fighting imperialism and the big bad coporation etc. Throw a love story in there with tonnes of action and you got a movie that both the guy and the girl will enjoy. I guess you could call it a chiguy flick.
Defintely a recommendation to go see. But do your best to see it in IMAX - book your tickets online as the theater I went to see it at had it totally sold out for the next day as well.
The story line is basic - indigenous people fighting imperialism and the big bad coporation etc. Throw a love story in there with tonnes of action and you got a movie that both the guy and the girl will enjoy. I guess you could call it a chiguy flick.
Defintely a recommendation to go see. But do your best to see it in IMAX - book your tickets online as the theater I went to see it at had it totally sold out for the next day as well.
First Entry
Hello Everyone, This is my first entry of my movie review Blog. As this is the first day of publishing I don't have any movies to review. But I have seen this past Saturday - Going to go watch Avatar. My way to review movies will be determine whether or not it was a fun movie to watch and will base my recommendation on that factor. I will also not be only watching movies in the theater, I will also try and find some hidden gems, movies that might not have been seen in the theater and will recommend whether it's a good movie to buy or rent on DVD or Blu Ray. I look forward to helping everyone have fun watching some great movies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)