Change Your Image
willcarter-56155
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Die Hard (1988)
Action adventure filmmaking at its best
John Mctiernen's Die Hard has become a classic today. Featuring all out action but with some ingenuine characters and pacing of the highest order Die Hard is one of the best action films ever made, and never equaled. Willis plays John Mclane- a cop, visiting his ex-wife in Los Angeles. Trapped in a building taken over by terrorists this is a nonstop 90-minute action ride from atop the Nakatomi building, a towering skyscraper. Bruce Willis became a superstar courtesy this film and John Mctiernan solidified his status as an alpha action filmmaker. A lot of things have been said about Die Hard, and suffice to say this film has permeated popular culture today and one sitting will show you why. This is great filmmaking. Action, Characters, Top notch pacing- if only every director used this template. If you are among the very rare who haven't seen Die Hard yet (!!!), I suggest you finish reading and order a DVD copy.
We're the Millers (2013)
Just re-watch Friends.
Another Jennifer Aniston rom-com? Yes, and with the same ingredients. We're the Millers is a comedy and, to say something nice about it, it contains its share of worthwhile moments and tiny pleasures. Some of the jokes are funny. If one was to compile all the good snippets and scenes into a highlight reel, it might run about six minutes. Unfortunately, the movie as a whole has a running time of 110 minutes. That means that, accounting for credits, there's close to 100 minutes of tedium to endure, which results in a mathematical ratio of 16:1 in favor of the drab, the monotonous, and the just plain boring. I think of a number of better ways to spend $10. Sorry, but the sight of Jennifer Aniston in translucent underwear imitating Jennifer Beals from Flashdance (to the wrong music) just ain't worth it.
Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive (2006)
Great documentary on a silent killer.
This documentary left me hurt- for I related with the presentor without even realizing. Stephen Fry the celebrated Englishman is a manic depressive and it takes a lot of courage to come out publicly let alone come out to the wide world in a documentary but this is a great effort by the comedian and he charts not just his battle with this disorder but its widespread effects and the ways one can try to work around it. Many are still confused as to what depression is and how devastating it can be- This is the documentary to show them.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
For the cinematographer give this one a shot.
A cliched sweeping drama starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, Legends of the Fall is a middling affair dampened by its length and disposition to playing with your emotions. However the cinematography is amazing and the vistas of the American wilderness and seldom looked as good as they have here. Why on earth would the 3 brothers fight for Julie Ormond? Brad Pitt was an emerging heartthrob back then and this film probably solidified that status as he looks ravishing here. But the film is a sentimental chore to sit through.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Watch it not just for "that" scene.
Basic Instinct was a huge hit and a cultural phenomenon when it was released and it is easy to see why. The sex scenes are raw and just a few steps away from being a legitimate pornographic film. The violence- although not often- is quite brutal and the blood flows like water. But the film is quite good as a detective story. Michael Douglas was in top form back when this came out and Sharon Stone finally hit the big leagues after playing the famous Catherine Tramell character. Featuring great noir-ish overtone and gorgeous locations Basic Instinct is a winner
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
If you are a Harry potter fan you should be watching this, others- better to start from the 1st movie or you'll be confused.
The sixth installment in the incredibly popular wizard series carries on the tradition of following the books. The half-blood prince probably won't bring with it the expectations that came with the Philosopher's stone but then it is expected to be lower key as the franchise comes to a closure- there remains just one more book after this (deathly hollows). However, this film is darker in tone and should be headed for more mature territory just like the series.