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Paul85
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A phenomenal start to the saga, severely mistreated.
Frankly, when I walked out of this movie, I was positive that everyone around me, and not around me, were pretty much crazy. It was the first movie since Jurassic Park to totally take me out of my stiff theater seat and transport me into a place of pure magic. Right from the opening scene with the Jedi taking control of the situation and putting their lightsabers to good use, I knew I was in for it. I think this episode is a constant joy, constant magic and excitement, and it has it's fair share of mystery and emotion too. It's an all around great film, and a great Star Wars film - and I honestly - ESPECIALLY now, don't think Lucas could of started the story off any better. People complain about it being kid friendly and overly happy and all that, but it's mainly for contrast reasons - it's the whole point. I expected the galaxy to be a more happier and lush place, I expected a more lighthearted atmosphere, ...and that's what it gave. It's the Pride Lands before Scar (the Empire) takes over. You can't introduce a world that's going to fall apart and be shrouded in darkness, in a six part saga no less, all dark and creepy right off the bat; where would the emotion come from when everything actually does go to hell? Exactly, It'd be nonexistent.
That subject aside, I have to go against the "majority" when it comes to this movie. I'm as dazzled, amazed, moved, and awed by the atmosphere as I watch this movie as I am with the others. In some cases, more so. Ridiculous? If you call me that, I can't stop you. I'm just enhancing the idea of how much I in fact like Menace as the start of this treasure of a saga.
One of the main reasons why I wasn't disappointed came from plain logic: I knew before Episode I came out that we'd get a lighter film, with a lot of exposition and slow pace setting up the saga. It was pretty obvious to me that that's what we'd get in Episode I. We wouldn't get another Empire Strikes Back or a Jedi - we'd get a starting point of a six part story that acts as a set up. I walked out of Menace thoroughly satisfied while people next to me asked "From Empire to this ? That's just missing the point. I'll say it bluntly: A majority of people totally, and still are, missing the point. That's why Menace is so blasted. No kidding it's not like Empire, no kidding it's not like the "originals". I mean it is, where it counts - humor, action, and style and everything that makes Star Wars so fun - but again Menace isn't a hardcore dive into the fast moving meat of the story like Empire and Jedi are, along with Revenge of the Sith. This is why Sith so favored. People are like "ohhh this is what should of been the first time!". Sorry, but no. You don't start a six part story off like a bat out of hell immediately getting to the things that people really want to see. Everything Menace offered, while bashed, were extremely necessary and Sith wouldn't of been half the "finally, Star Wars is back in full swing" movie if it wasn't for this so called "inferior" and "lame" film. I just don't think people understand how it is you should start an epic story properly. This is why I put Menace proudly next to the latter films and call it a perfectly told saga.
On the subject of the often bashed Jake Lloyd, you know, it may come as no surprise but I thought he did great. Again, it's all about contrast. This movie needed to establish that Vader was once just... a pure innocent child like anyone else. That alone is very emotional to me. He was a complete 180. It much relates to serial killers. They didn't start off as evil monsters, but were more so made that way, and also made some very bad decisions. I thought Jake nailed Anakin as Lucas intended the character to be at this stage. Sure, things like "Now this is podracing!" cannot be done well ...by anyone; however I know where Lucas was going with this kind of thing. Even so, you won't hear me say everything Lucas writes is perfect. However, when we're treated to each and every conversation between Qui Gon Jinn and Shmi or and Anakin and Shmi ..."perfect" is a word you'll hear me utter tons. The conversations in this movie are fantastic. Much like Prisoner of Azkaban, some of this episode's strongest moments come out of simple conversation, and of course both films scenes are both aided by the masterful John Williams. The scene where Anakin runs back to his mother as he's about to leave to become a Jedi is one of the most powerful and heart wrenching moments in the entire saga, not to mention the utter brutality of emotion to follow just seconds later. After seeing Episode II, and soon Revenge of the Sith, this scene will be unbearable. Phantom Menace lacks emotion? What a gravely mistaken statement.
To conclude my newest review, I think it's a complete triumph of imagination and superior storytelling. It's treated so unfairly that it's just amusing to me more than anything else.
5/5 out of a solid 5/5 saga.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
10(excellent) Excellent? Yeah, it is.
Once again it feels damn good to disagree with a majority of critics. I finally got around to seeing it and I don't think I've ever been this pleased with a decision of mine to get off my PC chair, and see a movie since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Wes Anderson is easily one of my favorite filmmakers. His style, his writing, his directing, and just his overall way of making films has to be the biggest breath of fresh air in cinema as of lately. Rushmore is GREAT, and it's one of those movies where the more I watch, the greater it becomes. The Royal Tenenbaums is actually just... easily one of my favorite films. As much as I love Rushmore, Tenebaums just hits the ground running with everything that made Rushmore great. So far Andersons films have been funny; actually, downright hysterical. They've even been deep and emotional under the surface, and the characters in his films are just COMPLETELY memorable. I mean, Tenenbaums has some of my favorite characters to come out of a movie ever. Not only that but his movies look fantastic and feel extremely original. Also, his musical choices are outstanding and really add to the overall mood and style.
The Life Aquatic is no different.
After hoards of critics made it out to be a disappointment, I went in there expecting something inferior to the previous films because critics mostly went "omg" over them and mostly trashed this one -- Someone remind me to just ignore their existence. Please. This was anything but a disappointment, this was anything but a drop in quality on ANY level. There was hardly a point in the movie where I wasn't at least grinning from ear to ear when I wasn't laughing (sometimes hysterically - which is rare for me), either at it's style, it's subtle humor, or it's awesome direction. There's even some risky humor in there that I admire it for. The acting is tremendous also, each actor was just...fully their character to an impressive extent, much like in Wes's previous works. You don't get that all the time in movies. it's part of what makes each film with the credit "Directed by Wes Anderson" so special. There's also a scene near the end involving a shark that's just pure cinema magic; I can't talk about this movie and not bring that one up.
So no - hell no, Wes didn't disappoint me. Not one tiny bit. From Rushmore to this, it's just a trilogy of great cinema (I have yet to see Bottle Rocket). It takes a certain type of person to really appreciate this film, I'm glad I'm one of them.
As far as I'm concerned, 2004 at the movies closed out on the best note it could have.
Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)
Gosh, Silent Hill 4 is great and underrated .
Silent Hill 4 is satisfying me more and more as I play it. I will admit that the gameplay is kind of clunky, but that's like it's only flaw along with The camera angles. As awesome as they are in a lot of parts, it gets in the way when it comes to fighting. This is the first SH game that I've.. worried about dying in. I can see what they were trying to do and for the most part it works, I'm a lot more panicked. In the first three, enemies would be like... hie, and I'd be like "hey whatever" and they'd be like "-k- I got owned". in this one, I dread every single moment I run into an enemy so that adds a lot for me. It IS a game, and I do like challenge. I must go against what a lot of the naysayers are going on about on this site and elsewhere, there is NOTHING all that wrong or "missing" so far. It feels like I'm playing a Silent Hill game, but this one, at the same time, feels more adventurous to me. It's acting like there's a lot more story to be told, but its being cool about not letting things go. It's really trying to just mess with your head so far.
One thing I REALLY like is how unlike the previous games, like... its like YOU'RE Henry, experiencing the events, which is a good reason why you're in first person mode in the apartment room (A SH first). You're seeing out of his eyes. In the other games, you're controlling a character, but in this one, its like you're in control but you ARE the character. It's very awesome. On this subject of being scary well, I've heard people complain that it wasn't as scary and I respect that, but the game is doing some kind of different fear to me. The environments so far have been extremely just... depressing. In the other three, there was depression, but the environments were more modeled after anxiety and fear. This one.... just feels like you're in purgatory or something. Like you're a wandering spirit yourself. I mean, the forest part of the game for example; its a forest, but there are a lot of "rooms" like...buildings and shafts, and the orphanage for another example, it feels almost... unnatural like its some sort of stage in a way. However at the same time, it feels very alive. So, this one... its extremely creepy, but while playing, its given me this incredibly... lost and hopeless feeling, like this story will never end or something. Like I'm just going to keep going through these portals, ending up in God knows where, watching other people get drawn in and eventually suffer. They don't have to be developed characters...this is another thing people are complaining about while playing; The way I feel while playing is the same way I'm sure they feel, and I feel sorry for the characters because of that.
So in conclusion, This game is anything but a disappointment. After having played it for hours and hours after hearing a year full of "something is missing" and "this is the weakest title," all I can do is just sort of giggle. Its better than SH1 and SH3 IMO. I' say its on par with SH2 almost, but VASTLY more creative and amazing on so many levels. I love this game, really it's.... its own little thing, kind of a departure from the rest, but it took its time to be its own thing and expand upon things heard about in the others; which was good. It's like the film "Memento" You get the story piece by piece while at the same time you KNOW there's a lot of pieces to be found; there's a lot of story coming your way - and that's just awesome. I really cant see how people were let down by it, definitely not. I mean it was just... it was like the same, kinda, except with original ideas. It's just different because you can't freely explore the town; which I admit was one of the more intriguing things about the series, but... moving AWAY from that for once isn't bad. I guess it could be if the story wasn't so hot, but the story in this one is right behind SH 2'S. That's saying a lot. I cannot even begin to express the many reasons Silent Hill 2 is one of the most brilliant games ever created, at least story wise. Not only is it a true assault on your nerves, it's very deep; the story itself is just genius.
Basically, These games are oozing with atmosphere, art, fear - very emotionally taxing stories; just pure brilliance. There's deep characters, the art of course... all of these things are simply perfect in these games. The music is also a high point, being both subtle and deep at the same time.
As much as these games are acclaimed, I still feel that they are vastly underrated. I hope the film brings the games more attention.
Hulk (2003)
Fantastic is what comes to mind, Best Comic Book film since Spider-man.
Oh, wow. I went into this movie with huge expectations..which is usually a bad idea, but man did this movie Deliver, on so many levels.
First off, FINALLY a movie over the 2 hour mark. I thought I could only rely on Lord of the Rings and Star Wars to give me that. Character Development, Emotional story, and of course..Hulk smashing.
Although, not too much Hulk Smashing. I doubt though kids will be pleased with the movie, out of its 2 hour and 20 minute running time, only about 20 minutes of that are action.
This didnt bother me any since the movie was done so well, but indeed it will probably make the kids squirm a bunch. I absolutely love the split screen comic book like useage, Just like pages from one of the books. Excellent.
Is this movie better than X2? IMO..Absolutely.
I liked X2 alot, but the action scenes were way too short, Stryker was probably the most boring villian Ive seen in a movie, granted the character development was great, but when the first 5 mins of a movie own the rest of the film..somthing is wrong.
But anyway, about Hulk..Yeah, Great movie, enjoyed it a ton.
One thing I'm really appreciative of, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee being credited around the start of the end credits in big letters, rather than a small spec of a section at the end.
On the whole, it's a really impressive movie. The harsh reviews I'm reading are not only unfair, but just uncalled for an innacurate.
9/10
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Alright, listen people..
A great thing happened today. A movie that I have been looking forward to, "The Matrix Reloaded", has been getting mixed reviews by critics and fans. Some thoughts, coming from direct friends, were also pretty jaded saying there was no emotion, and the fight scenes went on too long, and there's hardly any plot... and more. A great thing happened today. That great thing is that these people who thought it was bad in any slight respect is wrong. Not only are they wrong, they are monumentally wrong. Everyone has their opinion, but what I just seen in theaters today was the most amazing, exhilirating, breathtaking, emotional mind jobs I've seen in a very long time. To put it lightly, it was indeed the messiah sequel I was wanting, and then some. Better than the original, and by far even.
Call me wrong, but I know what I seen today. And it was magical. I'm the only person off or online who seemed to absolutely love the dance scene. The entire humanity of it -it established so many things at once, was necessary for so many reasons. It was one, a symbol of their rebellion against 'sleep', the machines' goal, two, a huge reinforcement of the powerful bond between Trinity and Neo, which made their scenes later mean much more (in perfect contrast to how a certain character in X2 didn't have enough time for it's scenes later in the film to matter much, in my opinion), three, a definite way to establish Zion as more than just a repository of human beings, but the last living, thriving pulse of humanity in the world, a celebration especially after Morpheus' speech.
My god, awesome audio-visual piece, in my opinion. I thought it was an interesting way to combine the man/machine concept, seeing the plugs still in their spines and limbs, while an act of love was going on. I loved that entire sequence through and through, one of my favorite parts of the film. Some of the acting could have been better... but the complaints stop there. It had no more "bad stuff" than the first movie, and I'm actually going to say this was a LESS FLAWED film than the original. How can I say that?
Easy. "The Matrix Reloaded" has MORE human moments, MORE soul, and MORE emotion. It does, no argument. There are so many things about this movie that is just a complete trainwreck of emotion. I felt bad for the people of Zion. But more importantly, I felt their struggle. Their need to celebrate, party, have sex... the works. Like I said, if I were in their situation, God knows... I'd be a party animal. Heard that phrase "party like there is no tomorrow?" That's the idea. Also, Morpheus' speech before the act was quite captivating, well acted, and sent tingles down my spine.
More about the film: Morpheus. Morpheus felt like a NATURAL LEADER. He was different because he was in a different position. He is no longer the main man: out of Zion, yes. In Zion? Not hardly, though he is well respected. His words were wise, his feelings were portrayed very nicely, and his overall character was handled to an extreme plane that most films lack. Neo: Neo was just how he should be. He takes orders from his superiors, he owns a lot of ass, and he is just damn cool. I loved his conversation with the Oracle.
Nice. Hell, everything including Neo was nice. It was just a continuation of his character, and I'm happy with it. Trinity was HEART AND SOUL. Hear me: HEART and SOUL. God, I love this woman. I love this character. When Persephone made Neo kiss her, I sank in my seat, just ripped to shreds. People say there is no emotion in this film? I say they are GRAVELY mistaken. When Neo brought her back to life like she brought him back to life in the first movie, I was moves to damn tears.
Well, Not NECESSARILY moved to tears because of the emotion (though it played a huge part in it) but moved because of how incredible and amazing it was to see someone bring someone else back to life with nothing but PURE LOVE. Of course, starting her heart back was amazing in itself but it takes love to accomplish this. Very moving, and one of the best scenes of all time.
All time.
The other characters... Zee, Niobe, Lock, the architect, the Oracle... good. Very good. Mona Gaye was perhaps one of the better actresses in the film. I could feel her not wanting Link to go onto the Nebberchunezzer. She didn't get much screen time, but when she was there, I felt great emotion. The twins are the Darth Mauls of this film. They are in it exactly as long as they should be, and they play their part-- to be totally badass-- with perfect precision and accuracy. Holy hell. Persephone. God, I loved her character too. This was my first time seeing Monica Bellucci in a role, and I must say I'm pleased with the results. She is not only nice to look at, but very deep and quite cool.
Next, Zion. Holy..... When we are first introduced to Zion with that awesome directing and epic music, I just felt like crying. Amazing. This was truly science fiction at its finest. I gaped and awed at the glorious city of human resistance. It was beautiful and majestic. A true sci-fi environment, completely realized by the directors. The action? For me, it was all about regaining consciousness. I liked the first few fights OKAY, then when the burly brawl commenced, well, consider me a loyal fan of this scene. Long. Tense. Oh my God? YES. I am truly out of words.
People say "well why didn't Neo fly away to begin with?" BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO, DUH. YIKES, WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE EAT FOR DINNER? It has obviously rectified your thinking pattern. As you PROBABLY DID NOT NOTICE, it takes a while for Neo to gain the momentum to fly away. KIND OF HARD WHEN YOU HAVE ONE HUNDRED REPLICAS OF AGENT SMITH ON YOUR ASS.
Now that that's over, just let me have a moment to myself concerning the freeway sequence.
*moment of silence*
Okay, I'm done. Of course, I will probably have several more moments of silence before I sleep tonight, but that's just one. There isn't any adjectives that can properly describe the amazingness and intensity of that scene. The way Murphus takes out the twins? Hold me someone, boy or girl, I don't care-- this scene is overwhelming and quite frankly I am not worthy to bask in the glory of it. How this scene was filmed, I don't know. And you know what? That's the magic of it.
Plot: Does this have more story than the original? Does this have a better story than the original? In my opinion, they have thier equal values, but I'm going with this new story. That's right, I enjoyed this story more. Why? The first movie was about discovery, this was about human life- about what it takes to survive, morality, CHOICE-- it's all in place, hand in hand. Some of the issues discussed between the characters were quite captivating.
I suck at remembering dialogue on a first showing, but I loved nearly everything that was said regarding the human spirit.
What makes us human? It's all discussed. The machines are digging to Zion, and the fate of mankind is at serious risk. The whole subplots with the Keymaker, KEYMAKER- not KEYMASTER, so PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST with your "THAT WAS TOO MUCH LIKE GHOSTBUSTERS" bull. Yes, it may have seemed that way or came off that way, but this was COMPLETELY different. Another thing that makes me happy-I didn't understand jack **** during the architect scene.
That's why I want to see this movie again as soon as humanly possible-- not only did it deliver the action goods, but the STORY and SOUL goods came in SPADES, but with a pricetag of confusing storytelling. I know people that understood it the first time around, so it is not bad storytelling. I'm just too stupid to understand all the details. The end was GREAT. I LOVED Neo being the Super Cool guy he was, stopping those machines in dead flight, and going into a coma. Nice, nice, and nice. How Trinity wants to stay with Neo rather than sleep... again, nice. Nice emotion here.
What if the prophecy is true? What if tomorrow, the war could be over? Isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for? Morpheus, if Revolutions is even half as good as Reloaded, you bet your ass it is.