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Reviews
The Brave One (2007)
Remarkable Film
Aside from the fact that Jodie Foster (as always) delivers a phenomenal performance, the storyline, although a little hackneyed, is great. You are put into the shoes of one who feels threatened by the tribulations and dangers of city life and throughout the movie, you feel as if you are in Erica's position, in constant danger 24/7 after you were brutally assaulted and left for dead. The movie raises the question: Is murder ever justifiable? It most certainly is. For one, Jodie's actions aren't solely fueled by her desire for vengeance, but out of fright. She kills (most of the time) in order to save her own life. For those who believe this movie isn't ethical: are you kidding me? Killing isn't justified in self-defense? If two men yielding a knife approached you, are you going to tell me that you wouldn't try to defend yourself? Moreover, I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn't want to get revenge when they were savagely beaten and their loved one was killed. This movie is chilling, I would highly recommend it to anyone who actually has the pluck and the maturity not to be "offended" by realistic themes.
Juno (2007)
Unrealistic
I cannot take this movie seriously. Aside from the pathetic attempt at acting and the completely hackneyed, pitiful dialog, the movie did not portray any realistic message. Let's go over the scenario: Your 16 year old daughter gets pregnant while hanging out with one of the neighborhood kids whom you have trusted since he was little. What is the parents' response? "Wow, he's the father?! Didn't know the kid had it in him!" Really? What caring parent would react like that? Let's also take into consideration their response when Juno says "I'm pregnant." "You're pregnant? Well, gee I was hoping you had gotten expelled or you were involved in drugs or something...but pregnant? Never saw it coming." The movie was by all means so unbelievably stupid it's not even amusing. Let's look at the other facets of the film that made it almost impossible to believe. I'm guessing that we're supposed to believe that a 16 year old girl would be willing to put up her baby for adoption, fall in love with the adoption father, fall out of love with him, and hand over the baby to his wife as if nothing happened. Not to mention that she's 16 years old and she drives a car all over the place. Overall, this movie was nauseating. It was not remotely funny, the "original" music was obscenely irritating, and Cody's attempts at witty dialog was pathetic. For anyone who likes the cheesy, phony sentimentality of Hollywood endings, you'll like this movie. For anyone who actually appreciates a realistic film, spare yourself the desire to commit homicide and don't see this movie.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Please do not see this movie
After all the hype I decided to see the movie. It was the most obscenely horrendous piece of garbage I have ever seen in my entire life. Nothing happens! There is zero suspense, and the ending (which is the only perturbing scene) is divulged in the trailer. What's the point? The fact that this movie was regarded "the scariest of all time" must have been a hoax because everyone in the movie theater was laughing. Not one person walked out of that movie theater satisfied or spooked. I would sooner impale myself with a butcher knife then ever watch such a horrendous insult to the horror media industry as long as I live.
Great Performances: Chess in Concert (2009)
Phenomenal - Highly Recommended
This was a tremendous remake of an underrated musical. The cast was terrific and captured the disposition of each character.
Josh Groban (Anatoly Sergievsky) - delivered an extraordinary performance with his powerful, crooning baritone voice. He also managed to capture the internally-troubled character of Anatoly exactly the way that Tim Rice portrayed him.
Idina Menzel (Florence Vassy) - did a very good job, to my surprise. I have seen Menzel in other Broadway performances and always thought she was mediocre, thus giving me a bias for this play. However, she did a terrific job acting/singing-wise and like Groban, captured the true characterization of Florence.
Adam Pascal (Frederick Trumper) - was the perfect person to act as Freddie--not only because of his excellent acting skills, but his high vocal range as well. He remarkably improved from the 2003 Actor's Fund Version he performed.
Kerry Ellis (Svetlana Sergievsky) - Although she did not make enough of an appearance in the show, she did a great job with "Someone Else's Story," a song which highlights her character in its essence.
Overall, the entire cast was outstanding and bring to life the show that hasn't made a grandiose appearance in over two decades. The show itself is brilliant; symbolizing tensions between the US and Soviet Union in the heart of the Cold War. This play is one that you may need to watch a few times before fully understanding the plot and its implications toward the Cold War; but once you do, you will realize how great the play truly is.
17 Again (2009)
REALLY? Really.
It's beyond me how people consider this to be a good movie. Zac Efron cannot, by any means, act decently. In addition, he really isn't funny and the whole "pretty-boy" attitude is just irritating. There was really no moral to it and it just wasn't entertaining at all. The character that plays the geeky friend isn't cute or funny; in fact, I really want to punch him in the face repeatedly. Granted, I assumed that it would be a cute movie for little kids.
It isn't. With some of the implications and language used in the movie it's evident that the movie was "meant" for teenagers. It did not, however, relate to any part of my teenage life, nor did it relate to any one else's that I know. It's a fact that if Zac Efron wasn't in the movie, it would not be remotely popular. Luckily, his smile is able to divert people's attention away from the fact that he has the acting skills of a mentally disabled 9 year old.
Unless you're one of those people who's in love with movies like High School Musical and shows like "Hannah Montanna," do yourself a favor and don't watch this movie. Spare yourself the desire to slash your wrists after watching it.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Better than I expected
Overall, the movie was actually pretty good; it greatly surpassed the original. The acting was excellent and the parents' reactions were much more realistic--particularly when they find out that their daughter was raped. Specfically, the last 45 minutes of the movie were extremely climactic and intense. The parents were very smart and typically the people act retarded in a scary movie; or you wonder, "Why the hell did she just do that? She could have gone the other way or done something else!" That didn't happen in this movie...at least not more than once. The way the father and mother killed the characters was mind numbing. For anyone who enjoys suspense, this movie is for you.
Problems with the movie:
1) I find it EXTREMELY difficult to believe that Mari was shot in the back while swimming, lie underwater for God knows how many hours, and yet was able to survive and stagger back to her parents house like 5 miles away. I like that the daughter survives, but they should have made it different (maybe she should have been shot in the arm or something...not the back)
2) Why wouldn't Paige SHUT UP?! If someone holds a gun AND knife to your head and says "not one word" you would be smart to NOT say anything. Oh no...not Paige. She felt the need to keep talking and PROVOKING them to kill her. In addition, it was pretty much her fault that Mari was raped. She should have kept her mouth shut.
3) Adding on to #2, I'm glad that Paige gets killed. She was pretty much asking for it the entire movie. If a strange boy comes up to you wearing a hooded sweatshirt over him, telling you to smoke pot, what kid in their sober mind would INVITE the kid into their car, drive back to his conveniently ABANDONED motel, and start smoking weed? That kind of annoyed me.
*For the first hour I was thinking, "Ehh...this movie isn't all that great." but as the movie went on, it got even more and more suspenseful and the last fight scene has you on the edge of your seat.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
One of the greatest movies ever
This movie is a classic. Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei are excellent in portraying a quintessential "Brooklyn" couple. The dialog is hysterical and the portrayal of Brooklyn characters is brilliant. In addition, the storyline is excellent. It's often hard to achieve a good storyline and have a hysterically accurate and funny movie at the same time. In nearly every movie I've ever watched, I always find something to critique or criticize about the movie. I couldn't find one flaw in this one. It was a mere demonstration of sheer brilliance on Jonathan Lynn's part. I would recommend this movie to anyone, particularly a Brooklyn resident.
Friday the 13th (2009)
Not Bad
Although I agree with many of the negative comments, ironically, I liked this movie. The effects were excellent compared to the old version and in my opinion, as far as scaring the audience does, it did its job. Things I liked: 1) The opening was insane. A lot of people didn't like it.. I thought it was awesome. I like the different styles in which he kills people. 2) The "jump" scenes--there were many of them. 3) The ending. I understand that in every past movie the ending has become cliché; but it's still classic. 4) The scenes were climactic. Obviously whenever someone is moving dramatically slow towards a shower curtain and the scary music is gradually growing louder, the killer ISN'T going to be behind the shower curtain. But you're waiting to see where he's going to be/or when he's going to appear
Problems with this movie:
1) I agree with what people wrote about the excessive sex scenes. In all seriousness, what does two people having hardcore sex or going wave boarding topless have ANYTHING to do with the plot of the movie? Was there any point in insinuating that the black character was going to pleasure himself to a lady in a catalog? Same thing goes for the drugs... 2) In accordance with other reviews, why does everyone keep talking to themselves? Like when the Asain character (Chewie) is stumbling around in the shed, drinking excessively and speaking to himself. After a while I kinda wanted him to die. I find it retarded that he HANDS Jason his machete. really? really.
Overall, I liked the movie. The acting was adequate and it was very scary & climactic. It keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat, which is what a horror film is supposed to do. 7/10
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Different
I enjoyed this movie. It was different, creative, and funny. Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant did a good job in playing their characters. It's a different type of romance, it's comical at many points, and it also offers some insight on song-writing and being a performer in the music industry. So many romance/comedy movies are the same in that two people meet, start falling in love, then they get into a huge fight and break it off. Then at the end, the guy says something touching to the girl, they get back together and live happily ever after. This was different in the way that High Grant's character gets the girl in the end. It's always fun to watch a movie that's not so predictable and demonstrates some original thought.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Worst Movie Ever
As someone wrote earlier, I would rather watch paint dry. This movie wasn't funny, or remotely interesting. It had absolutely NO PLOT and in my opinion, was the worst movie out of all the movies I've ever seen. I have never met anyone like Pedro or Napoleon in high school. There was not one funny line in this movie. In addition, it did not have any point. It went no where and it doesn't fit into any genre. It was not realistic and the acting was horrendous. In fact, the movie is so boring that it's irritating. It annoyed me to the point where I wanted to set my T.V. on fire. I would sooner drive a steel spike through my abdomen than to watch this movie again.
Turistas (2006)
I liked it
This was a good horror movie. I thought it was different and creative based on the "rumors" of what goes on in foreign countries. The acting was very good and the scenery was nice to look at. I enjoy how the suspense builds up as the movie progresses and the last half hour is very climactic. Certain scenes have you on the edge of your seat. At certain points, (such as the underwater scene) you can feel the person's pain and you feel almost as if you're in the movie. That's something that's very difficult to achieve in modern-day horror movies and in my opinion, the director does a great job. There were, however, certain flaws in the movie that bothered me. As someone mentioned earlier, the very end is kind of weird. Amy's best friend had just been killed, yet it appears that they don't care. What ever happened to Pru? They had become such good friends in the movie; I would have liked something like a "goodbye." Aside from those few things, I enjoyed the movie a lot. It was scary, suspenseful, and something different.
Josh Groban: Awake Live (2008)
Good Concert
This was an excellent concert. The song choice was great and made the concert much more enjoyable. The lights add a nice atmosphere that enhance the performance of each song. Groban displays much more comfort on stage and entertains the audience between songs. However, he also displays a singing technique in a few songs where he sings from the back of his throat, producing an awkward sound that sounds almost as if he's gargling water. Aside from this, his voice sounds pretty good and the songs are performed very well. This concert greatly surpasses his "Live at the Greek" performance from 2004 in every aspect. I would highly recommend this to any Josh Groban fan.
The Strangers (2008)
Good Movie
I thought this movie was actually really good. The beginning starts of very creepy and catches the viewer's attention right away. The story and conflict between the couple was pretty good; although after the movie "Vacancy" I thought the turmoil was somewhat redundant. There are definitely "jump" moments in the movie and very eerie scenes as well. The movie wasn't as slow as everyone depicts it to be. The suspense built up as the movie went on. In addition, the ending was not as cliché as people have said. I actually thought it was the perfect way to end the movie. Nevertheless, there were a few things in the movie that should have been fixed. The music being played on the house wasn't scary (as it was intended to be). In fact, it was only irritating and took away from the intensity of the scenes. Moreover, there were certain aspects of the movie that made me think, "Why did he/she just do that?" however, that's in every horror movie. I will agree that it was anti-climactic. Ironically, that's what I liked about it. A good portion of the horror movies I've watched consists of climactic "chase" scenes. At some point in those movies, a girl trips and hurts her ankle but manages to get away. This movie was different, which is what I liked about it. The climax was very different and peculiar. It was creative and scarier than many of the horror movies that have been released over the past five years.