Whatever It Takes
Just cause it's another low-budget, predictable, teeny bopper movie doesn't mean it automatically stinks...or does it? Whatever It Takes is the story of Ryan (Shane West), the nice boy from next door, and Chris (James Franco), the brainless, sex-driven jock who make a pact to set each other up with Maggie (Marla Sokoloff), the nice girl from next door with Chris, and Ashley (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), the ever popular girl of every guys' dream, with Ryan. Simple enough. So is the movie. I wouldn't agree it was the best chosen cast or best acting. And if you're looking for a fun teenage-driven movie, this movie is barely sufficient, since it's low on humor and lacks the usual Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachel Leigh Cook duo.
GRADE: C
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Splendid film! More old-age films should really be in this kind of format: modern, groovy, and tuney. This version of the classis romantic tragedy is played by Leonardo DiCaprio (What's eating Gilbert Grape? and The Basketball Diaries) and Claire Danes (Little Women, My So-Called Life tv series). They are well casted and give awesome performances. Well, one of the few flaw could have been on Danes' part. A little under and over emotional at times (i.e. the infamous last scene). But a great new approach to a well-known and "routine" play.
GRADE: A-
return to top
The World is Not Enough
Okay....if you're not here to stare at James Bond (Pierce Brosnan, I think, makes the best looking one) or a Bond girl (there's Christmas Jones played by Denise Richards and Electra King played by Sophie Marceau), then I can honestly say that you're wasting your time (over 2 hours of it). Nevertheless, for those inquiring minds, this 007 adventure has a plot that's almost as complicated as Mission Impossible (remember that ridiculous storyline?): Marceau's character's oil-drilling father has died and now her life seems to be in danger. Who's trying to kill her? Her old kidnapper? Bond has to figure this out, and a whole bunch more, and then deal with everything he figures out. Along the way, he'll kill his enemies, and sleep with the ladies. Yes, very exciting stuff indeed....
GRADE: C
The X-Files
Being an avid X-Files fan, I came into the theater with a big affinity for the movie, but also with big expectations and slight apprehension. But the movie delivers extremely well. Chris Carter has done a fine job on the big screen as he most often does on the small screen. His intricate, but not hard to follow plot, is a combination of everything that the 5 season long sci-fi show contains: government cover-ups, Mulder's (David Duchovny) suspicions, Scully's (Gillian Anderson) sci-fi jargon, those evil, old men, and seemingly "little, green men" (though a bit mutated in this film). I was scared that Carter would be forceful in making the movie a success, but in fact, the movie's modest execution makes for a delightfully suspenseful two hours. (Why the A-? If you know anything about Mulder and Scully then your opinion may differ on what becomes of "them." Can you see I'm trying not to give everything away?)
GRADE: A-
return to top
X-Men
Comic books to silver screen movies have not always been met with lots of enthusiasm. Afterall, the development of such well-established characters can be quite tricky. But director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) can be well commended for his efforts. X-Men was extraordinary, as are their characters. I didn't grow up religiously on the comic book or cartoon, but I have a general knowledge of who they are. The plot of this fun-for-all-ages movie is simple: stop Magneto's (head of the "bad" mutants, played by Ian McKellan) from his sinister plans. Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) leads the X-Men: Wolverine (portrayed by a very very good Hugh Jackman), Cyclops (James Marsden), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Storm (Halle Berry), etc. The beauty of this movie (and I thought it was quite beautiful) lies in it's characters and visual effects. I don't want to overhype the movie, because the truth is, the movie makes you feel like something's lacking (like...perhaps a sequel). I found myself craving to watch more, but I guess I'll have to make do with 2 hours of X-Men and pray for a sequel to come out soon. All in all, I loved it, and you probably will too.
GRADE: A-
X2: X-Men United
Awesome. Great. Leaves you craving more. (And you do know you will get more.) X-Men unite (both the good and evil) to face the mutant-hating Stryker. And what's the back story to Stryker? The storyline is incredible (it's a comic book remake afterall), but it's the directing and casting that is pure magic. Bryan Singer (who did the brilliant Usual Suspects) compels each actor to dig deep into the characters that were laid out in the comics. That's how you end up with a movie with equally stellar actors that don't outdo one another. Stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellan, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Kelly Hu, among many others!)
GRADE: A-
XXX
Vin Diesel as a thrill-seeking daredevil turned government secret agent is one heck of a plot. Surprisingly, it works very well if all you're going for is an action film with guns, explosives, cheesy lines, and fast cars. I thoroughly enjoyed this testosterone generated movie because, well, I think Vin Diesel is cool. Also starring Samuel L. Jackson and Asia Argento, XXX is pure movie fun without much else.
GRADE: B
You've Got Mail
Though the movie starts out with too many characters that don't really help to develop the main characters Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), it does start to focus more on them later on; which is a good thing considering that the duo of Ryan and Hanks make any romantic-comedy enjoyable. The plot is about two rivaling bookstore owners that have e-mail pals without knowing that it is really each other. You'll enjoy it because it's cute. You might dislike it because it starts to drag after almost two hours (this romantic-comendy is, in fact, two hours long!). Partial options goes to whether you think this movie being similar to Sleepless In Seattle is a good or bad thing.
GRADE: B
return to top
Zoolander
Holy crap, this movie was funny!! Ben Stiller is Derek Zoolander, the brainless super-male-model of the world whose very lack of intelligence, makes him the perfect candidate to become an assassin for fashion designer Mugata (Will Ferrell). Silly as it may sound (and the movie is rather silly, cheesy, and all that lame stuff that I ACTUALLY enjoy most), Zoolander is a fun movie to watch. If you want deep meaning to the movie, Zoolander actually does some political exploration into the garment/child labor/modeling industries. Also stars Owen Wilson as Zoolander's model nemesis, Milla Jovovich as Mugata's righthand-woman, and Christine Taylor as the nosy Time magazine journalist and love interest of Zoolander. There's also a vast array of celebrity cameos. I liked the movie because of and despite it's dimwittedness.
GRADE: B
W | X |
Y | Z
For movies A-B click here
For movies C-E click here
For movies F-G click here
For movies H-J click here
For movies K-L click here
For movies M-N click here
For movies O-Q click here
For movies R click here
For movies S click here
For movies T-V click here
NOTE: A grade of A is a highly recommended film for everybody.
A grade of B is a moderately recommended film for anybody.
A grade of C is generally geared toward a particular fan.
A grade of D is an unrecommended film.
A grade of F is a really bad film that is recommended for your extremely bored amusement.
This page hosted by
�� 
wn
Free Home Page
