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Reviews
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Watch the movie first?
It's amusing to read the ravings of these dittoheads condemning a movie they haven't even seen. The language used resembles the facist ideology used by the Nazi's to take power in Germany. Read your history, while we still have books. Look up the facts, while we still have access to them. The Saudi's do own the Bush Family. All Michael Moore has done is compile information that has been around for years, it's nothing new. All these dittoheads do is listen to 10 second soundbites from Rush, O'Reilly, and Hannity, and take those as facts and not do the research, which is the right of every dittohead. I have every intention of practicing and defending my First Amendment right, and supporting Michael Moore on June 21...while we still have a constitution...And what's up about giving the movie an "R" rating????
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Watch the movie first?
It's amusing to read the ravings of these dittoheads condemning a movie they haven't even seen. The language used resembles the facist ideology used by the Nazi's to take power in Germany. Read your history, while we still have books. Look up the facts, while we still have access to them. The Saudi's do own the Bush Family. All Michael Moore has done is compile information that has been around for years, it's nothing new. All these dittoheads do is listen to 10 second soundbites from Rush, O'Reilly, and Hannity, and take those as facts and not do the research, which is the right of every dittohead. I have every intention of practicing and defending my First Amendment right, and supporting Michael Moore on June 21...while we still have a constitution...And what's up about giving the movie an "R" rating????
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Brilliant Conclusion
All you have to decide is what to do with the time given to you...(Gandalf)
If after 10 plus hours of watching the entire trilogy and all you can do is moan about what is missing, then go see Harry Potter instead. If you decided to take in this epic undertaking of "adapting" this literary classic to the big screen, and truly experienced it for what it is, then you know how to live life. Peter Jackson gave eight years of his life to create the SPIRIT of Tokien's LOTR Trilogy. I loved the books (have read it every few years since 1977), so I know what is missing. I got over it real fast because Peter Jackson's LOTR Trilogy is PJ's vision. It just so happened that a lot of people like his vision, and if anyone else has the talent and courage to spend eight years of your life making a version you like, then good for you.
ROTK was a brilliant conclusion to the LOTR Trilogy. The characters the third time around were like old friends that you cared about. The visual effects were even better this time around. The Shelob was incredible. Anyway, I hope that if anyone gives this movie a "1" will at least have the courtesy to watch the movie before doing so. Cheers.
The Core (2003)
Fun movie, better than I thought it would be
In my book, there are no "bad" movies per se, only bad matches with viewers choices and expectations(or just extremely insecure people who wants to play Mr or Ms "I'm better and smarter than everyone" AND still be anonymous). Prior to viewing the movie, did I expect good science? no; did I expect an Oscar-worthy screenplay? No. did I expect or want to be entertained? Of course I did. And The Core did just that. Simple plot, likable characters, decent acting, fantastic effects, good pacing. The 2-hrs went by quickly. 7/10.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Wonderful movie
While some "reviewers" revel in their power-tripping anonymity of the internet, all I have to say that TTT is a more than worthy second part to this so-far amazing trilogy. Having read the trilogy many times over the last 25 years, I appreciate both the written word of Tokien, and the screen interpretation/adaptation of Jackson. As many comments indicated, Jackson preserved the spirit of LOTR, as he necessarily adapted the story for the screen. Gollum/Smeagal is an amazing achievement in CGI, and Serkis's portrayal deserves to be recognized. The "romance" of LOTR is in the epic itself, as the characters are but pawns being pushed and pulled by the circumstances and dynamics of the greater story. LOTR is not a Harry Potter story that is so simple that it can be adapted word for word onto the screen. There needed to be some manipulation to fit the story onto the screen, and in 3 parts that made sense visually, and in its continuity of the story. All told, a wonderful job by Jackson and his team.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
363 days to go...
The three hours I sat through FOTR was the shortest ever experienced. When the end credits rolled, I wanted more, because the adventure had really just begun. The most amazing thing was no one in the audience said a word once the prologue began, and I was surrounded by kids (It was the 2:45 matinee). The experience was just absolutely off the scale. I felt like the 17-year-old that I was, watching Star Wars for the first time, back in 1977. I praise and revile Peter Jackson for giving us such an amazing cinematic experience, then have us wait two years to see through the completion of this epic.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
363 days to go...
The three hours I sat through FOTR was the shortest ever experienced. When the end credits rolled, I wanted more, because the adventure had really just begun. The most amazing thing was no one in the audience said a word once the prologue began, and I was surrounded by kids (It was the 2:45 matinee). The experience was just absolutely off the scale. I felt like the 17-year-old that I was, watching Star Wars for the first time, back in 1977. I praise and revile Peter Jackson for giving us such an amazing cinematic experience, then have us wait two years to see through the completion of this epic.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
363 days to go...
The three hours I sat through FOTR was the shortest ever experienced. When the end credits rolled, I wanted more, because the adventure had really just begun. The most amazing thing was no one in the audience said a word once the prologue began, and I was surrounded by kids (It was the 2:45 matinee). The experience was just absolutely off the scale. I felt like the 17-year-old that I was, watching Star Wars for the first time, back in 1977. I praise and revile Peter Jackson for giving us such an amazing cinematic experience, then have us wait two years to see through the completion of this epic.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Wonderful movie...
CTHD was a loving and clever tribute to the martial arts movies that Ang Lee grew up with in Taiwan, and presented in a way only Lee could do. The brilliant casting of Cheng Pei Pei should have given it away to any "serious" fan of the genre. Movies such as Golden Swallow, The One-Armed Swordsman, Blood Brothers, Men from the Monastery, only to name a few, were the backdrop for this wonderfully complex story. Everything about the movie told us something about the 5000-year-old culture, philosophy, and mythology of China. The fact that Lee did not have the movie dubbed showed that he wanted us to experience something that was truly Chinese. The dismissal of the use of wire work in its fight scenes certainly dismisses the culture and mythology of China and only shows the closed-mindedness and ignorance of a few viewers. The overwhelmingly positive comments about the CTHD shows more that just a few people "get it," notwithstanding those self-proclaiming fans of the genre as an excuse for not "getting it." I am not an expert on martial arts movies, but like Ang Lee, grew up with the aforementioned movies and countless others of that period.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Wonderful movie...
CTHD was a loving and clever tribute to the martial arts movies that Ang Lee grew up with in Taiwan, and presented in a way only Lee could do. The brilliant casting of Cheng Pei Pei should have given it away to any "serious" fan of the genre. Movies such as Golden Swallow, The One-Armed Swordsman, Blood Brothers, Men from the Monastery, only to name a few, were the backdrop for this wonderfully complex story. Everything about the movie told us something about the 5000-year-old culture, philosophy, and mythology of China. The fact that Lee did not have the movie dubbed showed that he wanted us to experience something that was truly Chinese. The dismissal of the use of wire work in its fight scenes certainly dismisses the culture and mythology of China and only shows the closed-mindedness and ignorance of a few viewers. The overwhelmingly positive comments about the CTHD shows more that just a few people "get it," notwithstanding those self-proclaiming fans of the genre as an excuse for not "getting it." I am not an expert on martial arts movies, but like Ang Lee, grew up with the aforementioned movies and countless others of that period.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Wonderful movie...
CTHD was a loving and clever tribute to the martial arts movies that Ang Lee grew up with in Taiwan, and presented in a way only Lee could do. The brilliant casting of Cheng Pei Pei should have given it away to any "serious" fan of the genre. Movies such as Golden Swallow, The One-Armed Swordsman, Blood Brothers, Men from the Monastery, only to name a few, were the backdrop for this wonderfully complex story. Everything about the movie told us something about the 5000-year-old culture, philosophy, and mythology of China. The fact that Lee did not have the movie dubbed showed that he wanted us to experience something that was truly Chinese. The dismissal of the use of wire work in its fight scenes certainly dismisses the culture and mythology of China and only shows the closed-mindedness and ignorance of a few viewers. The overwhelmingly positive comments about the CTHD shows more that just a few people "get it," notwithstanding those self-proclaiming fans of the genre as an excuse for not "getting it." I am not an expert on martial arts movies, but like Ang Lee, grew up with the aforementioned movies and countless others of that period.
Gladiator (2000)
This is why we go to the movies...
I finally went and saw the movie with my girlfriend on a whim, although I have been wanting to watch it for awhile. While waiting for the film to start, I noticed the usual groups of movie hooligans coming in, and I was expecting usual hooting, laughing, and loud talking that make modern movie-going a torture. From the opening scenes to the final ending, I never have experienced such a silenced crowd as I did last Friday night.
The movie was brutal, relentless, tragic, and funny. The audience were deer caught in the glare of an oncoming freight-train. Two and a half hours later, upon noticing my girlfriend silently wiping tears from her eyes, I realized this is why we go to the movies. Not to compare and nitpick the movie the way these silly, silly people with no lives tend do, but to immerse one-self into the story and stunning visuals that very few movies in our generation have been able to do. Thank you, Ridley Scott, for giving us a reason to go to the movies again!
Sonachine (1993)
Not for lazy movie-goers...
Like most of Beat Takeshi's movies, you have to really observe it, rather than watch it, to really appreciate his movies. His style is almost Zen-like in its lingering shots of people and scenery. You have to be very attentive to everything he presents to you, or you are just not going to "get it." People here in the US are used to being spoon fed their information and it's no different in US-made movies. They need to be told if the character is angry, sad, tired, etc... and movies like Sonatine tells you "hey, you're on your own, use your brain for once." In most Asian cultures, males tend not to verbally express their emotions, but they will show in their eyes and body language, which is why Westerners have such a hard time understanding our culture. I'm Chinese, born and raised in the US, and I found this movie to be a wonderfully complex and beautifully shot.
The Matrix (1999)
An evolution of genre film-making...
I first saw the film soon after its released and was pretty awed by the experience, but didn't think much about it afterwards. It wasn't until I saw it again on DVD that I began to notice its significance. The Matrix is a true fusion of Eastern and Western genre film-making. The story, action, and effects are an effective blend of the East (Zen Buddhism, martial arts, and strong females), and the West (Sci-Fi, CGI, and gunplay), and all done in a very polished Western style. I wouldn't as yet call it a classic, but if we still talk about it with the same ferver 10 years from now, as we do today, then we probably have something. To criticize inconsistencies in the acting, parts of the story, or originality doesn't tell you about the film as a whole package. Genre classics such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Blade Runner, were far from perfect in its parts, and derivative in concept, but the films seen as a whole are incomparable. I have seen Dark City and eXistenZ, both contemporaries in reality benders to The Matrix. I rate Dark City slightly above that of The Matrix in certain aspects of story, and I love the film noir style of the movie, but The Matrix as a whole just pushes the right buttons for me in entertainment value. After all, this is what movies are about, entertainment. From all the comments I read on IMDB, we as movie goers chose two ways to watch a movie: 1) from a wide-eyed, holistic approach, enjoying the ride, or 2) sucking on a lemon, squeezing every bit of joy out of the movie experience.
Aam fa (1998)
A good thriller out of Hong Kong...
Lau Ching-Wan continues to amaze me with his transformations into his character. This was a great acting vehicle for both Lau Ching-Wan and Tony Leung. The story was good, and the direction was tightly wound and suspenseful. Unfortunately, all the tension unravels into an extremely unsatisfying ending.
Arlington Road (1999)
One of the most underrated movies of 1999...
I missed the original release of this movie, but finally saw it on DVD. I was initially turned off by the rather lukewarm reviews, but what I saw was a terrific, intelligent thriller, based on current events that are almost too close to home. The director kept the tension nice and taut throughout the movie, building the suspense much like the ride up to the top of a roller coaster, and suddenly letting it go. Tim Robbins and Jeff Bridges were inspired casting choices for the two major characters, and Joan Cusack is terrific as always. The movie's disturbing story was probably a turn-off to a lot of people looking for a couple of hours of mindless entertainment, but it's definitely worth checking out.
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (1989)
Another classic from Takeshi Kitano...
Having seen both Sonatine and Boiling, I just saw "Violent Cop on DVD. Kitano gives another stoney-faced, high-voltage performance as Azuma. The slow pacing in this case intensifies the tension and bursts of violence in the movie. Azuma's close and caring relationship with his sister adds the emotional charge to this movie. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Relic Hunter (1999)
Fun new series...
I've seen most of the episodes and it's a fun show to watch. Tia Carrere notwithstanding, I do like the concept and the stories seem to get stronger as the series goes along. I would say it's more of a modern-day Indiana Jones type show. Tia comes off intelligent as well as sexy. I think Tia would make a great Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider movie.
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
What could have been...
The only reason I didn't score this movie lower than a five was the presence of Irons, Byrne, Depardieu, and Malkovich. The story was fine, the acting great, but Dicaprio dragged the whole movie into the gutter. For a period piece such as this, it helps to have real actors in the critical roles, of which the producers seem to have forgotten when they cast this girly-boy wanabee actor into this movie. I actually preferred the Three Musketeers from a few years back, at least all the main cast could act.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
All hyped up, no place to go...
I finally rented the DVD of this terribly hyped up movie, put it on my 40 inch screen with surround, turned off the lights, and wasted 90 minutes of my time. Maybe it is the age difference (I'm 39), but I didn't have any sympathy for the characters. Their total lack of preparation, and misplaced confidence to near arrogance just blew it for me. In fact, with all the screaming and whining and crying, I just couldn't wait for the Blair Witch or whatever was out there to finish them off. I thought the concept was terrific, but it just didn't do it for me.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Great film!
The Sixth Sense did to me what The Haunting(1999) didn't even come close to doing, scare me. What a thrill is was sitting in the theater not knowing what was coming next. This was a great piece of film-making. It was nice not being bombarded with special effects but rather letting the inference of "something" not "normal" create the suspense in the movie.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars Lite
I was 17 when I saw Star Wars in May of 1977. With the promise of the continuation of the series in Sequel and Prequel form over the next 20 or so years, you can imagine my disapointment of the possibility of Return being the last. When the prequel was announced I was still excited despite my advancing age and different priorities. When I finally sat down last July in front of the screen, I was just awed by the level of technology that was brought into the movie. The characters and acting was terrific, the effects were just amazing. Yet at the end of the movie I felt left wanting. There was no closure to this "installment." The movie by itself didn't feel complete, that it depended on the succeeding sequels to make it work. I was gratified yet disapointed. I guess we'll what the future and George brings to the "franchise."
The Mummy (1999)
Silly entertainment
Why get serious over this movie? I finally saw this movie on DVD and I have to say that I was thoroughly entertained. The story-line was no better or worse, or less accurate than Raiders of the Lost Ark (one of my all-time favorites), and I thought the dialogue was very tongue-in-cheek. I rather compare this movie more towards "Army of Darkness," but less filling and over the top. In fact, I would have liked to have seen Bruce Campbell as Rick O'Connell rather than Brendan Fraser, although Fraser was fine in the role. Needless to say, this movie won't make the AFI's big list but it was no less entertaining.