macvader999 Reviews

Crank (2006)

boom!

[9/10 · 18 February 2007]

Wow! If you are a fan of Jason Statham movies then you'll love Crank. The first thing that came to mind as I watched the film was that it was the Transporter on crack or some type of amazingly good drug. I'm thrilled it actually has a 6.9 too because tons of great action movies on this site get the shaft, rating wise. Anyhow, the plot is quite simple and probably implausible (but who cares it's a freaking action movie). Statham as Chev Chelios has been poisoned and can only stay alive by keeping up his adrenaline. Due to this, the movie moves very rapidly with Statham doing whatever he can, from provoking fights to having sex in public, to keep up his heart rate. Statham, while at times appearing callous, is able to mix some quick wit into the energy seeking Chev as he pursues those responsible for poisoning him. So, if you're in the mood for an action-packed film with a small dose of drugs and sex on the side then I suggest you go out and watch Crank.

The Hitcher (2007)

better than recent horror movies

[7/10 · 24 January 2007]

In an era where horror movies rely too much on gore and have weak plots like Hostel and Turistas, the Hitcher was able to mix in a little bit of everything that makes for a solid horror film: a diabolical killer, suspense, some gore, and attractive women. The movie focuses on a couple Grace and Jim (played by Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton respectively) traveling by car to party with Grace's friends. On their way they narrowly miss hitting a hitchhiker but instead of picking him up they speed away because he seems creepy. Later, while the couple is refueling, the same hitchhiker appears at the gas station thanks to a lift from a truck driver. Jim decides to give the hitchhiker, who reveals himself as John Ryder (Sean Bean), a lift to a nearby motel despite the concern of his girlfriend Grace. Soon after they pull away from the gas station, it becomes apparent that Ryder is a lunatic. He pulls a knife on Grace and is about to kill her before Jim slams on the brakes and, with the help of Grace, is able to force Ryder from the car. Unfortunately, Grace's cell phone fell out of the car with Ryder so the two have no way of contacting the authorities. The rest of the movie involves Ryder hunting down the couple in what turns out to be a trail of mayhem. On a negative note, parts of the plot were slightly contrived but this did little to take away from the overall mood of the film. For those who like "Wolf Creek" type suspense movies and are tired of overly gory horror films then the Hitcher is definitely a good bet. Also, Sean Bean gives quite a chilling performance as the fiendish John Ryder.

Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy (2001)

ron jeremy

[5/10 · 27 November 2006]

Maybe it was the fact that I watched it at 2am, that I knew very little about Ron Jeremy, or that I was probably in the mood for an action movie but I found Porn Star: The legend of Ron Jeremy to be too slow moving. Despite its slowness, Porn Star did a good job of portraying Ron Jeremy as your average joe and not only as a porn king. So for those of you who envy Ron Jeremy and his particular endowment this documentary will help shed the light on how Jeremy actually lives his life. It goes to show that people will always want what they cannot have. For example, many men envy what Jeremy has in terms of physical endowment and success but it has not led to ultimate happiness for Ron. In fact, he wants to become a serious actor but that would be nearly impossible considering his past in the porn industry. Also, Jeremy talks about how he hasn't really been able to love anyone or have a serious relationship because of his work. I suppose the moral of the story is to be thankful for what you have and to do the best you can with it.

Love & Sex (2000)

favreau not at his best

[6/10 · 27 November 2006]

Since seeing Swingers I have become a big John Favreau fan but Love & Sex was not one of his greatest movies. The basis of the film is all in the title: love and sex. Favreau plays artist Adam Levy who meets Kate Welles (Famke Janssen) at one of his art exhibits. Soon thereafter, they begin dating and enjoy frequent sex. At first, their relationship is nothing but great and passionate. But as time passes the passion naturally fades and, eventually, Adam decides to call it quits with Kate. Overall, the movie is filled with witty dialogue and some memorable scenes (like how Adam picks up Kate at the art exhibit) but didn't finish strongly enough. I'd say the first half of the film was genuinely funny while the second half struggled through a cliché-filled plot and predictable ending. Still, if you're a fan of jon favreau then I'd recommend this film but don't expect as many laughs as in Swingers or a cameo by Vince Vaughn.

Blue Crush (2002)

blue crash

[3/10 · 12 November 2006]

Unless you really enjoy B movies or surfing then this movie isn't worth your time. I admit there were some neat surfing shots but outside of that this film had no redeeming qualities. The plot, if you can call it one, revolves around surfer phenom Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth) making a comeback to the sport after nearly drowning, she hit her head on a rock, during a competition. The film tracks Anne Marie as she prepares for a major surfing competition while trying to overcome lasting psychological effects of her near drowning experience. Overall, the plot was filled with clichés and the acting was bad to, at times, atrocious. Even the solid surfing scenes weren't enough to pique my interest. So unless you want to watch relatively unappealing (sorry, Kate) women surfing then I'd pass on this movie.

Swingers (1996)

favreau's best?

[10/10 · 11 November 2006]

If you're a fan of jon favreau or vince vaughn then watching swingers is a must. The film, written by favreau, follows aspiring comedian Mike Peters (favreau) and some of his buddies after they move from New York to Hollywood, hoping to make it big. The change of scenery proves not to be as fruitful as peters had hoped. In fact, after six months he still hasn't been able to land a good gig and, also, can't seem to get over Michelle (his ex-girlfriend of six years). In order to to get Mike back in the game, Trent (Vaughn) forces him to go out to the bars and even to Las Vegas during the middle of the week. All in all, I enjoyed a favreau script that was filled with countless quips and great dialogue almost as much as the acting. A young Vince Vaughn steals the show with a breakthrough performance as the humorous and energetic Trent, a role quite similar to the one he played in Wedding Crashers. In addition, Ron Livingston is excellent in a supporting role as Rob, who Mike often turns to for guidance with his women problems. So, if you're looking to watch a movie with witty writing, solid acting, and a lot of laughs then Swingers should fit the bill.

Saw III (2006)

worst of the three?

[6/10 · 5 November 2006]

I was so anxious to see this movie that I actually paid to watch it in the theatre rather than waiting for it to come out on DVD. The film had pretty much everything I expected: gore, gruesome traps, and a decent plot. But it didn't really have the surprise factor that made the first one so interesting. The third installment of Saw follows two main subplots. The first involves Dr. Lynn Denlon playing a game in which she must keep Jigsaw alive (he's not dead yet, just on his deathbed with cancer). The catch is she's wearing a shotgun collar that will kill her if Jigsaw dies or if she goes too far away from Jigsaw. The second subplot surrounds a man Jeff, who we learn lost his only son--he also has a daughter-- in a hit and run accident. Since the death of his son, Jeff has been obsessed with exacting revenge on the man who killed his son. Because of this, Jigsaw chooses him to complete a game I'll call "forgiveness v. punishment." In each phase of the game Jeff is presented with the opportunity to save (or if you will, forgive) someone who was involved in the death of his son (the only witness who fled the scene, the lenient judge, and finally his son's murderer). If Jeff completes his game successfully then the doctor will be allowed to go free. SPOILER:

In the meantime, the viewer learns that Jigsaw's protégé (Amanda) is actually just a bitch (seriously) and isn't really teaching people to appreciate life with her traps as Jigsaw does. In fact, the traps she creates are actually impossible to escape from. Overall, this movie made me cringe often (some of the traps and Jigsaw's partial brain removal were quite grisly) and for fans of disturbing horror movies I would definitely recommend it. Still, I was disappointed with the major plot twist (finding out that Jeff and the doctor are married) because in the beginning of the film you think that the doctor is married to the man she's actually having an affair with. In the opening scene he tells her that he wants a divorce, implying that they are married, but really he wants her to get a divorce from Jeff.

The Prestige (2006)

synopsis

[8/10 · 30 October 2006]

Surprisingly, the Prestige kept my attention until the end. I thought it would be a decent movie but it definitely was better than I thought it would be. The basic plot surrounds two magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). The two start out working together but end up enemies after Angier's wife dies following a botched magic trick. Angier blames Borden for his wife's death claiming Borden tied the wrong knot that led to the drowning of his wife. Borden goes on to start a family and a solo magic act. He creates a trick I'll call "the reappearing man" where he bounces a ball then walks through a door and reappears through another door about 20 feet away and grabs the ball as it bounces past the 2nd door. Angier, who with the help of Cutter (Michael Caine) and Olivia (Scarlett Johansson-basically only used for sex appeal), creates a magic act as well. After watching one of Borden's shows, Angier is convinced that Borden uses a machine to transport himself from one door to the other. Despite Cutter's insistence that Borden uses a double, Angier becomes obsessed with discovering Borden's secret. The rest of the movie follows Angier and his devotion to figuring out the secret to Borden's most popular trick. The climax of the movie is filled with several compelling twists and turns and ultimately some unanswered questions. Overall, this was an above average thriller that was able to incorporate magic in a semi-believable way. SPOILER:

For example, it was unclear whether Borden really had a twin or if he too, like Angier, was able to duplicate himself using the machine Tesla created.

The Departed (2006)

synopsis

[10/10 · 30 October 2006]

I suppose I was a little harsh in ranking The Departed a 7 out of 10 but whenever I watch a Martin Scorcese film I expect to see a great movie. I guess that's what happens when he's directed hits such as Goodfellas and Casino. Still, The Departed was an action-packed film that left me shocked (in a good way) as I left the theatre. The plot centers around Colin Sullivan (played by Matt Damon) as a crooked police officer from Boston and Billy Costigan (Leonardo Dicaprio) as an undercover cop posing as a gangster in Frank Costello's (Jack Nicholson) gang. Basically, Costigan is recruited by Officers Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) and Queenan (Martin Sheen) to become a mole within the Frank Costello crime operation. His work as a mole is totally clandestine with only Dignam and Queenan having any knowledge about his mission (to gather evidence to arrest Costello). Subsequently, Costello suspects that there's a spy on his crew and asks Sullivan, using his police power, to find out who the mole is. Unfortunately, for Sullivan, he doesn't have access to the records of undercover police officers and therefore has no knowledge of Costigan. To complicate the matter further, it is suspected that there is a mole within the police department and Sullivan is assigned to investigate such claims. Without giving away too many plot details, the rest of the film centers on Sullivan desperately trying to find the mole on Costello's crew while Costigan does the same for the police department. In general, the film was filled with much of what has made past Scorcese films so good, great acting, a solid plot, and a lot of action/bloodshed. In particular, I thought Matt Damon stole the show with a great (Oscar worthy?) performance as the suave yet cold Colin Sullivan. Also, Mark Walhberg was great in a supporting role as the bellicose Officer Dignam. Overall, I felt this was a great movie but still a tier (albeit a small one) below Scorese classics such as Goodfellas and Casino.

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

synopsis

[8/10 · 28 October 2006]

aside from an occasional wisecrack from Al Gore, this documentary was really quite serious and scary. Basically, Gore discusses the dangers that global warming presents to the world and the dramatic climate change that will occur if we don't work together globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The documentary proved effective in creating a fear factor out of the global warming issue (if it hadn't been before) while also remaining as politically neutral as possible. Still, I thought Gore talked too much about his personal life and his presidential bid in 2000 although he did tie them into the general theme of the film. This movie further validates the theory of global warming and makes one like myself want to do more than just sit around and wait for the day of reckoning. Overall, an Inconvenient Truth was quite provocative and thoughtful and left me with a sense of guarded optimism (well that is if the U.S. signs the Kyoto Treaty) for the future of mankind.