jcavhs Reviews

Ocean's Twelve (2004)

Not as good as the first one

[7/10 · 7 January 2005]

I saw this movie over the holidays with my family. I was very excited because I love "Ocean's 11". This was still a good movie, but I didn't feel that it lived up to its prequel. The beginning was very slow and choppy. I felt that they spent too much time leading up to the conflict. I wish they had not felt the need to show Benedict threatening every member of Ocean's 11. I kept thinking, "okay I get it. He's ticked and if you don't get him his money he'll kill you all. Can we get on with the plot?". I spent the first half of the movie wanting it to be done. Once you finally understood the conflict then it went very well. I thought the ending was very good, and very touching. I just wish that the first half had been as good as the second.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I don't understand the hype

[5/10 · 7 January 2005]

One of my friends asked me to watch this movie with her saying that it is a fantastic movie. I agree and I was very disappointed. It has an interesting premise but I thought that what was done was very boring. I spent most of the time wondering how much longer it had to go. I don't know if you were supposed to figure out that Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet's character met again after they had their memories of each other erased, but I figured it out about 10 minutes into the film. From there, I was pretty much able to guess what would happen. I felt that Jim Carrey did do a good job acting. I just wish there had been less footage of him unconscious on the bed. I also felt that the antics of the technician and secretary were completely unnecessary to the plot.

Timeline (2003)

Some inconsistencies but overall very good

[6/10 · 7 January 2005]

I watched this movie after seeing Gerard Butler in "The Phantom of the Opera" which left me wanting to see more of his work. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It is definitely not the type of movie that I normally would choose for myself, but withing a week of getting it I had watched it three times! I thought the plot was interesting. To find something from someone you know in the present and know that it is over 600 years old and then discovering that he is stranded in an earlier time is very intriguing. There were a few things that bothered me. For example, how in the world could people from the 14th century understand 20th century English and vice versa? I was also bothered by the fact that at the beginning they talk about how Lady Claire's death inspired the french to win the battle, but since they changed it in the past shouldn't they already know that she doesn't die? Supposedly the book does a better job of explaining it and so I must read it sometime. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. It was very well acted and the plot line while unbelievable was still enjoyable.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

My new favorite movie

[9/10 · 28 December 2004]

I have been a fan of the stage show since the first time I heard the music. I was thrilled this summer when I not only got to see the show for the first time, but also heard that the movie was coming out. I was nervous when I saw the Joel Schumacher was directing and that Gerard Butler, who had no prior singing experience, was playing the Phantom. I fell in love with Gerard Butler's voice when I first heard the soundtrack. It is very different from stage show voices but I think it works very well. I've noticed that Emmy Rossum's (Christine's) voice blends very well with both Gerard Butler's and Patrick Wilson's voices but that the two male voices do not blend well at all. I think musically illustrates the conflict that exists in the plot. I went into the movie knowing that I would like the music but still nervous that the visuals would ruin it. I couldn't have been more wrong. This movie captivated me from the very beginning. Everything was very well done. When I walked out of the theater I knew that there were things that I hadn't liked but they were so small that I really couldn't even remember what they were. While this is based on the stage show, it is different from the stage show. You shouldn't go in there expecting to see what you would on stage. It is a new interpretation, and while it does not replace the stage interpretation, in my opinion that the movie's interpretation is just as good. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys musicals, or just a good story. This movie is easily my favorite and I will be seeing in numerous times in the theater before buying the DVD.