lwmayberry Reviews

Barnyard (2006)

Watching this is like going to the DMV

[3/10 · 22 October 2006]

This film might have one of the worst story lines of any cartoon I've seen in recent memory. It could have been good, it should have been good, but the trailer shows all the best parts. The jokes are one dimensional, not like in Toy Story were the joke is funny to kids and adults for different reasons. There's some political stuff stuck in there that either you like or don't. I thought it was a little much for a cartoon, but kids won't catch it.

The animation is on level with a good television cartoon. The songs in the film are good, but nowhere close to great.

My recommendation is if you are expecting a Jeff Foxworthy or Larry the Cable guy type cartoon skip this one. If your kid really wants to see it, rent it so at least you can go in the next room and watch a rerun of something or stare at the wall.

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

Don't expect too much

[6/10 · 22 October 2006]

If your expecting a Saving Private Ryan or Patton type film you are going to be disappointed. The movie is not patriotic, and it mostly flips back and forth from different times(some are flashback). The time changes are not confusing, but it is annoying in the way they happen. The acting ranges from mediocre to just plain bad. Which cause you to never quite feel for the characters. Then story tends to drag at the end, and it just lacks depth through the entire film.

The visuals are great in the film. It's some of the best I've seen in this type of film. Nothing stands out as historically inaccurate, like in some period films that have present day soda/beer cans, etc. It's different in many way to the normal war film, in the aspect that it shows solders after the war in more detail.

Overall I was not checking what time it was during the movie, so it did keep my attention. My recommendation is if you really want to see it, catch the matinée or the discount theater showing in a few weeks. It's not worth full price!