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ajmalfait
Reviews
Crash (2004)
Way Overrated
This movie was so unbelievably bad, I'm truly astounded at its current composite rating (8.5, #64 overall). None of the characters were very interesting, and having each character do the exact opposite of what one would expect EVERY SINGLE SCENE made it just as predictable as if they'd made predictable decisions every time. There was virtually no attempt at nuance, but rather black is white and vice versa.
Sure, I can appreciate that there is good and evil within us all as well as the movie's attempts to challenge stereotypes, but the plot was so over-the-top that it had zero credibility. A particularly egregious example was the storyline with the TV producer and his wife. I was laughing at loud at the utter absurdity of it.
I apologize to those who are fans of this movie, but if you haven't seen it yet, there are thousands (rather than 63, ha!) movies that you could spend two hours viewing that would be more worthwhile.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
An undeniably fantastic portrayal of one of the greatest stories ever told
The first of Tolkien's epic trilogy is a must see movie for everyone, regardless of whether or not they've read the books. Granted, there are a few minor flaws to Jackson's film, such as the seeming lack of character development. However, these imperfections are hardly noticed as viewers are taken for the ride of their lives from the opening sequence, which recounts the history of the ring that rules them all. Further details should be experienced first hand by the viewer. Overall, the acting is superb (particularly by Wood and McKellen), the effects are entrancing, the costumes and set designs are unparalleled, and the scenery is breathtaking throughout. It is a testament to Tolkien's power as a writer that such excitement needed not stray far from the original text. Moreover, Walsh's spell-binding script and Jackson's directorial acumen allows readers of the novel to have their high expectations met. In a season littered with films, this is the one that rules them all.