REVIEWS 2003
Created: 10/18/03. Added my thoughts on Kill Bill and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre "revision."
| Alex & Emma | * � | Romantic-comedy retread with a few cute moments interspersed and bankable leads, but unfortunately for Kate Hudson, this ain't no How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. |
| American Wedding | *** | Cute and clever gross-out comedy closure to the Pie series. Gross out gags, for sure, but the sentimental heart of the prequels is still there too. |
| Bringing Down the House | * � | Lame retread of the odd-couple formula with too many stereotypes and flat jokes, raised only slightly by Queen Latifah's charming performance. Without her, this movie would've fallen flat. |
| Bruce Almighty | ** | Clever, sometimes almost admirable comedy in the vein of Liar Liar, but too often feels like "Jim Carrey Almighty." I would like to have seen someone else cast in the roll and witnessed a different interpretation of the character instead of just Jim Carrey being Jim Carrey. |
| Cabin Fever | ** � | Along with Wrong Turn from earlier this year, this is what Rob Zombie TRIED to do with House of 1,000 Corpses. What separates Cabin Fever from Wrong Turn? This isn't a backwoods slasher. Instead, this is a clever, often brilliantly accomplished horror thriller that knows how to play with the genre. It references the genre, it homages the genre, and when all else fails, it spoofs the genre. Director Eli Roth has a keen sense of horror movies; the set-up, the cliche, and the atmosphere all work wonderfully, and a lot of the time the suspense is actually there too. This is the wet-dream of horror movie fans with its homages to the likes of Deliverence, Night of the Living Dead and obvious inspiration The Evil Dead and in fact this might be the most brilliant horror debut since Sam Raimi brought his similar college victims into the woods back in 1981. However, the camp can be too campy and the wink-wink subgenre of horror is starting to wear thin. |
| Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | ** � | This series is still no Oscar possibility nor great action picture, but in comparison to the first, this one was a lot more fun and entertaining to watch. So, the angels may need a little help from the big man, but things ARE getting better. |
| Daredevil | *** | Admirable comic-book hero action/drama/romance hybrid. However, I feel a darker tone would've worked MUCH more and I would've liked to have seen better character development of Jennifer Garner's Elektra. |
| Darkness Falls | * � | Lame, often times unintentionally hilarious creature feature. If you're going to see this for the action figure, don't bother, she's not here. Disappointing after the prologue. |
| Down with Love | *** | Charming, clever, and ultimately hilarious romantic-comedy throwback to the films of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger are in top form. The best romantic-comedy of the year. |
| Dreamcatcher | *** | Shoot me, but I was into this movie. It's not great filmmaking, it's not wonderful storytelling, but it kept me entertained for it's running time. |
| Final Destination 2 | *** | A rare occasion in the horror genre. A sequel that directly connects to the original, ties up loose ends, and at times almost spoofs it's predecessor. The creators of this film new it would be difficult to follow up the first Final Destination from plot alone. So what do you do? Have fun! Take the same plot of the original, follow the sequel rules (higher body count, more gore, etc.), take out the seriousness and philosophical side, and somehow keep things suspenseful. Difficult task, but it has been done. This is one of the best horror sequels... or rather sequels in general, ever made. Features the most brutally graphic and realistic car accident I've ever seen on film. Surprisingly, if the first had never been made, this one would hold pretty strongly on its own. See it, have fun. A very enthusiastic thumbs up! |
| Finding Nemo | **** | Pixar proves again that it can do no wrong. This adorable, touching, and hilarious family adventure is a piece of breathtaking cinema. Clever storyline and likeable characters combine with some of the best CG animation I've ever seen make this the family movie of the year. I laughed, I cried, I was put in a trance by the visuals. |
| Freddy vs. Jason | ** | *Sigh* Ok, lots of hype, but low expectations... well, you get what you asked for. This is basically a better produced Nightmare on Elm St. sequel with Jason thrown in for good measure. Cheese cheese cheese, but fans will get a kick. I was mildly amused for most of it, but the end is what brought this one home. The battle IS actually fun. Definitely one for the fans though. |
| A Guy Thing | ** � | Predictable, but enjoyable romantic comedy for it's mostly likeable characters, lead performances, and some original moments. It's all about Julia Stiles. |
| Hollywood Homicide | *** | Surprisingly clever buddy-cop flick starring Harrison Ford as a cop/realtor and Josh Hartnett as his yoga instructing, part-time actor partner. I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. |
| House of 1,000 Corpses | * | What? Why? Who? *Shrug* The most hyped-up horror film of the past three years is also the horror world's biggest disappointment. All the pieces to the puzzle are there, unfortunately Rob Zombie's trying to make a Picaso. When the "villains" aren't yacking your head off, the "victims" are just plain disposable. The only intimidating baddie is used for all of five seconds (almost literally). Clowns, scarecrows, rednecks. How could you have gone so wrong? Texas Chainsaw Massacre the music video, that's how. |
| How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days | *** | It's fluff, but it's entertaining fluff. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are cute together and the situations they put the other in are just hilarious. |
| Hulk | *** | A continuation in the trend of surprisingly well-made comic book-to-film adaptations. More a psychological drama about family and abuse than action blockbuster, this is a fine summer movie, though it does drag on in the last unnecessary half hour. It almost feels like watching Hulk and it's sequel all in one. |
| Identity | *** | Oh yeah, this one had me, it lost me, and then got me again. The story totally mind-f***ed, bitch-slapped, and kicked me in the groin, but kept me thinking afterwards enough for another viewing. Horror flick? Hitchcockian mystery? Psychological thriller? Um... yes. |
| The Italian Job | *** | The next installment in a long run of heist re-makes. Fun and funny, entertaining popcorn movie. It's all about Charlize Theron... and her suped up coop. |
| Jeepers Creepers 2 | ** � | Is it scary? No. Is it suspenseful? No. Is it good? No... but damn if I didn't have a good time watching this one. I did enjoy the original, and no this doesn't live up to it, but this movie is a total blast. I haven't laughed so hard all year at a film, and I'll be damned if it wasn't put in there on purpose. I believe we have our next Freddy/Jason franchise on our hands. You know, the type of horror movie with a bad guy who will never die and you end up rooting more for him than his "victims." |
| Just Married | ** � | Wow, it's actually cute. Yet another version of the Out of Towners story is cute when it focuses on the relationship aspect, but the script tries to focus on the toilet humor when there's no need. Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy actually have a sweet, believable chemistry and the story should've played off of that more often. |
| Kill Bill: Volume 1 | **** | Ultra-violent, stylistically beautiful, masterpiece of an action film from Quentin Tarentino. Not one gripe. It's clever, it's witty, and one hell of a fun ride. One of the year's best films. |
| Malibu's Most Wanted | ** � | I was on the floor with this one. Surprisingly clever pop-culture commentary comedy only falls apart in the last ten minutes where it feels like a new writer was suddenly brought in to reduce the film to cliche. The ending has a totally different tone from the rest of the movie and it's quite apparent. |
| The Matrix: Reloaded | **** | I had low expectations, but had to shut my mouth after seeing this movie. some may argue the philosophy is either too forced, or too minimal, depending on point of view, but I felt the movie worked just fine. |
| May | *** | Dark-comic/horror hybrid combines want part Carrie, one part Frankenstein and one part intelligent slasher film and succeeds, helped even more along by the breakout performance of its lead Angela Bettis. |
| Old School | * | Could not find this movie funny even though I DID try. Will Ferrell surprisingly didn't grate on my nerves and Vince Vaugn tried to do something with his character, but Luke Wilson is not his charming self and when you do a film of this kind, you need to have a sweet innocence to it. And though Ellen Pompeo tries to bring something to the table, her character is not brought up enough to bring up any point and the script seems to have no real plot minus the idea of "men in pre-mid-life crisis." I DID however admire the fact that it tries (though fails) to be in the same league of classic National Lampoon. Snaps to Jeremy Piven as the anal dean. |
| Phone Booth | *** � | I loved this movie. I found it intriguing, unpredictable, and ultimately suspenseful. The ending is the only let down for me. Until that point, this film grabbed me by the pacemaker and kept on defibbing. This can be almost considered the third part of the Joel Schumacher urban legend trilogy, the other two being Falling Down and 8 MM (coincidentally the only other two Schumacher films I like). Colin Farrell... how do I love thee, let me count the ways. The film rests on his shoulders and he knows it and does what he has to do. Kiefer Sutherland as the "voice of God" rocked my world. Only a voice, but a great supporting performance. Forest Whitaker has the difficult roll of having to be ignorant but aware of what's going on the whole time, and I got no qualms. You just gotta love the guy. |
| The Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl | *** | Fun swashbuckling romp reminiscent of the days of Errol Flynn. Great summer fun with some pretty entertaining fight sequences and one uber performance from Johnny Depp. Can't wait for the sequel. |
| S.W.A.T. | *** | FINALLY Michelle Rodgriguez is put to good use in an action film. Proof you can actually turn a bad 70s tv show into a pretty decent modern day action film remake. The type of action movie I actually wouldn't mind seeing a sequel for. |
| The Recruit | ** � | Thumbs up for the great performances, chemistry between the cast, and exciting build-up. The predictable, almost unbelievably improbable ending hold it back. |
| Tears of the Sun | ** � | Well-intentioned, stylishly filmed action drama. Picks up in the end, but the opening talky drama drags for a little too long. |
| Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | *** | Hard to believe as it is, but this continuation in the saga is actually rather impressive. More than just a retread of its predecessor, this is actually next in a line of intelligent action films to come out in a while. I had low expectations for this film, but ended up actually liking it more than Judgement Day. My best bud said it best in describing this film as having almost a documentary feel to it, as if we were watching historic events. Great performances and nice twists in the plot that don't feel forced. Do yourself a favor and see this one. |
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre | *** | Yes, it was another pointless remake flushed out by Hollywood to make an extra buck, but I must respect a remake that actually has the filmmakers' hearts in it. It's stylishly done, suspenseful, and at times actually made me jump. It's definitely far better than House of 1,000 Corpses, but not quite sure how it compares to Wrong Turn. Still, this is a very well done remake, minus the usual flaws of any film of this genre. Still, highly suspensful. |
| Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and the Cradle of Life | ** | In comparison to the original... it breaks about even. There are some better points (locales, action sequences) and some lower points (too many locale shots and supporting characters not worth caring about). The main problem I'm having with this series is... they're just not really all that fun> Lara Croft is tough, we get it, but does she not have a humorous bone in her body. I still say what this series needs is a script above anything else. |
| 28 Days Later | *** | The first great zombie film since... way back in the days of George Romero... and this movie had obvious inspiration from the Living Dead trilogy through it's many homages. Not the scariest movie I've seen, but it is still pretty exciting and intelligent as far as horror movies go. |
| Willard | *** | Creepy, but nonetheless funny and entertaining dark-comedy/horror remake hybrid. I caught the in-jokes, I appreciated the atmosphere, and liked the Oedipus/Norman Bates complexity of Willard. Crispin Glover makes a comeback in top form. |
| Wrong Turn | *** | Thank you!!! After the disappointment that was House of 1,000 Corpses, it's nice to know that there's still some pure suspense in running away from your backwoods murderers. More in the vein of Deliverence than Texas Chainsaw Massacre, director Rob Schmidt knows how to keep the audience clenching for the armrest despite a script with minimal character development. And despite this fallback, the cast does surprisingly well too. A finely tuned horror film that actually knows what horror is. Oh how these GOOD 70s horror throwbacks just bring a tear to my eye. |
| X2: X-Men United | *** | Frisky, fun, popcorn flick for the summer. This sequal to the 2000 comic book-based film is more in the style of Hong Kong action pictures than traditional American summer blockbusters, in that it focuses not much on a plot, but a slew of interesting characters and well-played action sequences. Well played. |
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