-Daisy
Reviews - 6/4/03
X2 - (A+)
Undeniably fantastic. A couple scenes could have been edited down by a couple minutes, but otherwise perfect. Wait a minute�an appearance by The White Queen would�ve made it perfect.
Far From Heaven � (A+)
On every level, this is a brilliant, brilliant movie. From start to finish, it sent chills up and down my spine. This is about as beautiful as a movie can get without forgetting, that it is more than just pictures on a screen. I�d put it on my �top 100 movies of all-time� list. Todd Haynes is a damn genius.
Hysterical Blindness � (A)
I didn�t know if I was supposed to love or hate the characters, and although I think the writer could have cleaned up a couple of spots, generally this was an enjoyable film. The unfortunate part is that at times, it hit a little too close to home and so I cringed a lot. (As scary as it is, the style, people, and atmosphere of 1980�s Jersey is exactly like the area I live, in 2003.)
Adaptation - (A)
I expected this to be a good movie, but I was happy to have my expectations exceeded. This one struck particularly hard, as I, myself, have just finished taking a coarse in writing literary adaptations. I�m really surprised this one was as acclaimed by the academy as it was, it definitely had a more �indie� feel than I�d expected.
Catch Me if You Can � (A-)
I probably would�ve have liked this slightly better if I hadn�t had SUCH high expectations for it. Honestly, it wasn�t as hilarious as I�d imagined it, but it did have its moments. All I can say is that that Frank Abagnale Jr., is really neat-o! Oh, and the intro credits are graphically great!
Believer � (B+)
�Believer� did of coarse follow the proper formula for a skinhead movie, and once again, I�d like to re-instate that that is a particularly dangerous formula, mainly because the protagonist is a hate-monger, however�all that considered, it�s still a good flick. Not AS good as American History X, but still not too shabby. I particularly enjoyed the flashback scenes, because the kid that he used to be, was actually rather admirable.
Red Dragon - (B)
Take this review for what it is. I never saw Silence of the Lambs or Hannibal (cause I�m a sissy), so I really am passing judgment on this film alone, and I kinda liked it. Ralph Fiennes is in it, and I love him (he is god), so that�s good. There were plenty of things that made me cover my eyes - which I understand is supposed to happen when watching a creepy movie. Based on those two things I say �Yea.�
Man from Elysian Fields � (C+)
I had hoped it wouldn�t be too much of a chick flick. Unfortunately it was. Too much love and mush almost ruined it. Fortunately, the fact that Mick Jagger and Michael Des Barre were in it, playing male escorts saved it. I�m a big fan of prostitutes (especially cool ones).
One Hour Photo � (C)
Well, I must say, this was certainly creepy. I used to work at a one-hour photo place, so I can understand being amused with the incoming photos, though I don�t ever recall there being many wholesome family photos being processed. Most people who take pictures are dumb teenagers, so, I saw lots of pictures of drunk people and shots of public hair after someone shoved the camera down their pants as a joke. Not a bad movie, not outstanding either.
Darkness Falls - (C)
It was what it was, a creepy movie. I watched it; I slept with my lights on for a little over a week. Not brilliant by any means, but at least Emma Caulfield was in it, and that is very good.
The Transporter - (D)
The actual fistfights were fantastic, but they didn�t do tons of that. So, it gets a D. I like that guy though�umm�Frank Statham - reminds me a cross between Bruce Willis and Vin Diesel.
The Emperor�s Club - (D)
I can�t believe I didn�t like it. I�m such a sucker for private school boys. I think I�m more disappointed in myself than the movie. Either way, I don�t recommend it.
The Matrix Reloaded - (D)
I actually made myself sleep through part of it so I didn�t have to sit through even more painful dialog, bad pacing, and action that didn�t meet �X2� par.
Max � (D)
First of all, Germans speak German, or in the very least have German accents; but in this movie Germans speak American English, Cockney English, and Proper English except for Hitler, who has an accent that sounds like a cross between Sweedish, German and Gay. Then there�s that whole thing where Hitler keeps whining about how he hates bullfighting because it�s immoral, cruel and inhumane, then goes on to bitch at that Max guy about showing him caged birds (he doesn�t think that you should put things in cages apparently). My question is, what Adolf Hitler was this movie about?
Reviews - 3/29/03
8 Mile
When the critics gave this one so much praise, it made me curious. When I actually sat down, listened to Eminem�s music, and realize that it actually kicked ass, then I became even more curious. In a way, though this isn�t good. It�s never good to get your hopes up too high. HOWEVER � this movie was even better than expected originally, which is really quite a feat! I�ve seen some good movies in my time, and I consider myself a bit of a music movie junkie especially. I think �8 Mile� is an excellent example of the ongoing struggle of trying to incorporate cool music into the film medium, and the way they did it was essentially flawless. The toughest thing to do in the genre of musical film is to take it seriously. I, for instance, take music VERY seriously, and yet, most movies I�ve seen ABOUT music, somehow, usually leave me with a terribly vapid feeling, no matter how well done they are. I mean, I know �Almost Famous� for instance was supposed to be a serious film�and it was�but after watching it, you don�t end up feeling dick about anything BUT the music or that period of time. You watch �8 Mile� and while you may be impressed as I am with the MC battles (and may want to see more � as I did), you still tend to focus more on what a great fucking story it was. And another thing I REALLY liked about it was the fights. I mean, they were brutal as shit! I�m a big fan of fights � love watching them, but lots of times they�re sucky. Not in �8 Mile�! I don�t know what they�re like without surround sound, but Jesus H! I mean, you can fucking feel em�! I don�t care what type of music you�re into�this movie rawks ass! So, stop being a suck ass hipster and go pick it up on DVD. Trust me.
24 Hour Party People
I probably should�ve reviewed this movie directly after I saw it, because it�s been a couple weeks since I rented it and now I have to try to recollect my exact opinion of the movie. This sucks. Not the movie, but THIS reviewing stuff sucks. Ok, umm�If I recall correctly�it was�good. I like watching movies about music crap and this movie is a movie about music. Maybe it was a tad (just a tad) too long for the type of movie it was. I�ll be honest with you, I actually know (knew) nothing much about this slice of music sub-culture history so I guess I have nothing to compare it�s accuracy to. I have to say in general, I liked it, even though there�s a couple sad parts, but it did make me want to go learn more about that stuff (pre-rave Manchester, England). Geeze. I forgot to say what it was about. Damn. Ok. It�s about this guy who looks really square, but he isn�t because he was all into punk rock and he started like booking shows and umm�started a label and shit and pretty much held court over what eventually became the rave scene, that started out as punk. I don�t think that made sense. Oh well. I got too many more reviews to do, so I ain�t fixing it.
The Wash
Ok. This was sort of a music movie in a way � Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem were in it. I REALLY liked this movie. It was like a black Kevin Smith movie. The rock stars in this flick were all really great, especially Eminem. He played a psycho and though he wasn�t in it much, he was still my favorite (but I got a huge crush on him so take that with a grain of salt). But oh, OH how this movie made me laugh�and laugh�and laugh. No, I did not pee my pants. But I did laugh�a lot. Highly recommend this one!!
Igby Goes Down
Really liked this one too! It�s not exactly uplifting, but it�s cool. Keiran Culkin, I swear to god, must be one of the coolest actors ever! He picks the best fucking roles! But anyway, yeah�great movie about what happens when you grow up in weird situations and then you are forever fucked. Plus you get to see more of Ryan Phillippe as he sort of was in Cruel Intentions (which fuckin� rules too!) I can�t remember who wrote the sceenplay but they did a great job with the dialog, I thought.
The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys
Another one for the thumbs up category! It�s about these kids who want to draw/write comic books and they go to this crappy religious school, and they like get in trouble and shit and then there�s like weird/sad family stuff�. but it RAWKS ASS! I mean seriously! It�s funny and um�sometimes the conversations hit a little too close to perfect (especially the comic book ones), and there�s very young, yet very sexy boys in it. Yow! Um�anyway�good movie� and there�s big kitty cats in it. But just cause I said the thing about the young hot boys, don�t let that deter you � this is DEFINITELY more of a guy�s movie, I don�t know if the chicks will dig it as much. Oh yeah! And the animation is cool.