Director: Liam Lynch (Tribute Music Video, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic)
Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Kyle Gass (Elf, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 1
The TV show on HBO was awesome but this movie is not. It contains some nice inside jokes for fans of the TV show, but not enough to satisfy true D fans' desires and too many for someone not familiar with the show. Its not overly funny but still entertaining. Look for Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame as the Devil.
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9/30/08
Casino Royale (2006)
Director: Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Vertical Limit)
Stars: Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Chronicles of Riddick)
YesNoSoso: 2
There have been some awesome James Bond movies (GoldenEye, Dr. No) and there have been some awful ones (Die Another Day, Her Majesty's Secret Service). This is hands down my favorite. Creating a hero that is otherworldly and yet believable is a difficult task, truly and successfully done only a handful of times. Bond in Casino Royale is one of them.
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Stars: Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Chronicles of Riddick)
YesNoSoso: 2
There have been some awesome James Bond movies (GoldenEye, Dr. No) and there have been some awful ones (Die Another Day, Her Majesty's Secret Service). This is hands down my favorite. Creating a hero that is otherworldly and yet believable is a difficult task, truly and successfully done only a handful of times. Bond in Casino Royale is one of them.
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Modern Times (1936)
Director: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Stars: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Paulette Goddard (The Great Dictator, Sins of Jezebel)
YesNoSoso: 1
The 1 YesNoSoso rating is generous. In my opinion, this is Charlie Chaplin's best film, but thats not saying much. You will not be enthralled, you will probably not even be mildly entertained, but everyone should see a Chaplin film and if you're limiting yourself to one, this should be it. Chaplin made this one after the development of "talkies" but chose to stay silent because he felt it was a more refined movie experience. Judging by other movies I've seen from this time period he may have been right. The only talking happens when someone is speaking through a machine or by actual machines. A nice touch and you know my hard-on for gimmicks. Also there are times when it actually made me laugh, albeit briefly and softly. But overall, its just boring. I appreciate it for the leaps it made in the artform, but its incomplete and antiquated.
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Stars: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Paulette Goddard (The Great Dictator, Sins of Jezebel)
YesNoSoso: 1
The 1 YesNoSoso rating is generous. In my opinion, this is Charlie Chaplin's best film, but thats not saying much. You will not be enthralled, you will probably not even be mildly entertained, but everyone should see a Chaplin film and if you're limiting yourself to one, this should be it. Chaplin made this one after the development of "talkies" but chose to stay silent because he felt it was a more refined movie experience. Judging by other movies I've seen from this time period he may have been right. The only talking happens when someone is speaking through a machine or by actual machines. A nice touch and you know my hard-on for gimmicks. Also there are times when it actually made me laugh, albeit briefly and softly. But overall, its just boring. I appreciate it for the leaps it made in the artform, but its incomplete and antiquated.
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Babel (2006)
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inirritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros)
Stars: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Ocean's Twelve)
Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Bandits)
YesNoSoso: 2
Again, both movies listed next to Inirritu are great, he just really hasn't done anything else. Slightly convoluted, Babel follows four interwoven plot lines running all over the world. Exceptionally fine acting jobs from veterans Pitt and Blanchett but also from random Moroccan kids Inirritu found on location. If you don't mind actually using your mind this is an excellent movie.
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Stars: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Ocean's Twelve)
Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Bandits)
YesNoSoso: 2
Again, both movies listed next to Inirritu are great, he just really hasn't done anything else. Slightly convoluted, Babel follows four interwoven plot lines running all over the world. Exceptionally fine acting jobs from veterans Pitt and Blanchett but also from random Moroccan kids Inirritu found on location. If you don't mind actually using your mind this is an excellent movie.
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Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
Director: Akira Kurosawa (The Seven Samurai, Rashomon)
Stars: Some Asian actors you've never heard of
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Bringing out the Dead)
YesNoSoso: 0
First off, both of those movies listed next to Kurosawa above are awesome so don't email me with wildly misplaced disgust and wrath. This is literally the only movie my Kurosawa that I've seen that I didn't like. Considered one of the best director's ever, Akira's movies have been remade into forms you are VERY familiar with. Next time you see George Lucas, ask him where the plot to Star Wars originated. But this movie sucks. Horribly. Pretentious art shots with English dialogue awkwardly written by Kurosawa. The only redeeming moment is watching Martin Scorsese (who considers Kurosawa one of his hero's) playing Vincient Van Gogh. Why Scorsese chose to read Kurosawa's dialogue without rewriting it in discernable English is one of life's great mysteries.
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Stars: Some Asian actors you've never heard of
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Bringing out the Dead)
YesNoSoso: 0
First off, both of those movies listed next to Kurosawa above are awesome so don't email me with wildly misplaced disgust and wrath. This is literally the only movie my Kurosawa that I've seen that I didn't like. Considered one of the best director's ever, Akira's movies have been remade into forms you are VERY familiar with. Next time you see George Lucas, ask him where the plot to Star Wars originated. But this movie sucks. Horribly. Pretentious art shots with English dialogue awkwardly written by Kurosawa. The only redeeming moment is watching Martin Scorsese (who considers Kurosawa one of his hero's) playing Vincient Van Gogh. Why Scorsese chose to read Kurosawa's dialogue without rewriting it in discernable English is one of life's great mysteries.
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Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Director: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Space Cowboys)
Stars: Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Antitrust)
Adam Beach (Law and Order: SVU, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 1
Before perusing Clint Eastwood's IMDB page, I would've said he's a great director. I still do love alot of the movies he's directed (Mystic River, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby) but I was unaware of how many terrible movies he's helmed (Space Cowboys, Blood Work, Firefox). This movie isn't horrible, its just boring. I've never seen, but heard very good things about the companion peice to Flags, Sands of Iwo Jima, but this one was, as I said, boring. Like if The French Connection was about the paperwork Popeye Doyle had to do after the drug bust, instead of the actual crime.
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Stars: Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Antitrust)
Adam Beach (Law and Order: SVU, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 1
Before perusing Clint Eastwood's IMDB page, I would've said he's a great director. I still do love alot of the movies he's directed (Mystic River, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby) but I was unaware of how many terrible movies he's helmed (Space Cowboys, Blood Work, Firefox). This movie isn't horrible, its just boring. I've never seen, but heard very good things about the companion peice to Flags, Sands of Iwo Jima, but this one was, as I said, boring. Like if The French Connection was about the paperwork Popeye Doyle had to do after the drug bust, instead of the actual crime.
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9/25/08
Magnolia (1999)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love)
Stars: Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Cocktail)
John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights, Never Been Kissed)
YesNoSoso: 2
Yes, I know. The ending is weird. But this movie is awesome. As evidenced by incredibly long uncut shots and immense casts of complex characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of today's elite director's. There are 9+ main character story lines, all seemingly separate but seamlessly connected by the end. Play Where's Waldo with the numbers 8 and 2. The story loosely follows that of Exodus 8:2 from that really famous book whose name is escaping me...
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Stars: Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Cocktail)
John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights, Never Been Kissed)
YesNoSoso: 2
Yes, I know. The ending is weird. But this movie is awesome. As evidenced by incredibly long uncut shots and immense casts of complex characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of today's elite director's. There are 9+ main character story lines, all seemingly separate but seamlessly connected by the end. Play Where's Waldo with the numbers 8 and 2. The story loosely follows that of Exodus 8:2 from that really famous book whose name is escaping me...
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The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Director: Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King)
Stars: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Stuck on You)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, A Knight's Tale)
YesNoSoso: 1
I love Terry Gilliam. Seriously, I want to take him behind the middle school and get him pregnant. He's made two of my all time favorite movies (12 Monkeys and Brazil), was a member of Monty Python and is one of the few truly experimental directors in main stream film. Unfortunatley, with experimentation comes occasional failure and Brothers Grimm is one of those failures. I still found it enjoyable, especially Gilliam's dark take on classic Grimm fairy tales, but as a whole it just misses. The execution just seems kind of haphazard and the story fractured. Oh, and Monica Bellucci is a goddess.
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Stars: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Stuck on You)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, A Knight's Tale)
YesNoSoso: 1
I love Terry Gilliam. Seriously, I want to take him behind the middle school and get him pregnant. He's made two of my all time favorite movies (12 Monkeys and Brazil), was a member of Monty Python and is one of the few truly experimental directors in main stream film. Unfortunatley, with experimentation comes occasional failure and Brothers Grimm is one of those failures. I still found it enjoyable, especially Gilliam's dark take on classic Grimm fairy tales, but as a whole it just misses. The execution just seems kind of haphazard and the story fractured. Oh, and Monica Bellucci is a goddess.
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9/19/08
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Director: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris ("Say it Ain't So" Weezer video)
Stars: Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, Blankman)
Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Changing Lanes)
YesNoSoso: 1
I just didn't get it. It wasn't bad, I enjoyed watching it, but I didn't see anything special about it at all. Maybe everybody else fawning over it skewed my judgment, but I doubt it. Solid performances all around, and wonderful motif of failure, but that's about it.
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Stars: Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, Blankman)
Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Changing Lanes)
YesNoSoso: 1
I just didn't get it. It wasn't bad, I enjoyed watching it, but I didn't see anything special about it at all. Maybe everybody else fawning over it skewed my judgment, but I doubt it. Solid performances all around, and wonderful motif of failure, but that's about it.
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Diner (1982)
Director: Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Envy)
Stars: Steve Guttenberg (Cocoon, Police Academy)
Tim Daly (Superman: the Animated Series, Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde)
YesNoSoso: 2
If I didn't know about Diner and you told me there was a movie directed by Barry Levinson that stars Steve Guttenberg, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser and Daniel Stern I would probably kick you in the balls for informing me that such obvious proof of Satan exists. But this movie is quite good. Its funny and charming. Suprisingly this is due, in part, to the cast's performances. Its not that I don't like these people, I just don't generally like the cookie cutter bullshit they make. Every part in Diner is cast perfectly. Its like the origin of all these actors and every other movie they do is their character in Diner trying to act in another vehicle, with disasterous results.
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Stars: Steve Guttenberg (Cocoon, Police Academy)
Tim Daly (Superman: the Animated Series, Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde)
YesNoSoso: 2
If I didn't know about Diner and you told me there was a movie directed by Barry Levinson that stars Steve Guttenberg, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser and Daniel Stern I would probably kick you in the balls for informing me that such obvious proof of Satan exists. But this movie is quite good. Its funny and charming. Suprisingly this is due, in part, to the cast's performances. Its not that I don't like these people, I just don't generally like the cookie cutter bullshit they make. Every part in Diner is cast perfectly. Its like the origin of all these actors and every other movie they do is their character in Diner trying to act in another vehicle, with disasterous results.
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The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Director: D.W. Griffith (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Stars: Lillian Gish (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Mae Marsh (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
YesNoSoso: 0
This movie sucks so bad and is so long, it literally took me 3 weeks to watch it. I would watch 15 minutes, notice my hand slowly moving sharp objects towards my eyes, and have to turn it off. I don't care if its the first color movie of all time. I don't care if I should appreciate it for the time in which it was made. I don't care if its on the original AFI 100. The "color" is just feces tinted celluloid for three hours and the excrement color is an appropriate representation of the films actual content. Its racist, silent and is unequivocally the most boring thing I've ever seen. Fuck D.W. Griffith. I'm glad he's dead.
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Stars: Lillian Gish (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Mae Marsh (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
YesNoSoso: 0
This movie sucks so bad and is so long, it literally took me 3 weeks to watch it. I would watch 15 minutes, notice my hand slowly moving sharp objects towards my eyes, and have to turn it off. I don't care if its the first color movie of all time. I don't care if I should appreciate it for the time in which it was made. I don't care if its on the original AFI 100. The "color" is just feces tinted celluloid for three hours and the excrement color is an appropriate representation of the films actual content. Its racist, silent and is unequivocally the most boring thing I've ever seen. Fuck D.W. Griffith. I'm glad he's dead.
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Rocky Balboa (2006)
Director: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky II, Stayin Alive)
Stars: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Driven)
Burt Young (Rocky, Back to School)
YesNoSoso: 1
To start off, my love of Rocky almost got a movie as God-awful as Rocky V a 1 rating, so the 1 rating for Rocky Balboa isn't exactly telling of its overall quality. It would have had to be really bad, like Rocky V bad, for it to not receive at least a 1. With that being sad, Rocky Balboa is a decent movie. It certainly doesn't live up to the solid awesomeness of the first one, nor the over the top ridiculousness of 3 and 4, but it is a surprisingly quality flick. Surprising because I, like most, thought it would suck. The theme of an older fighter looking to get "the beast" out was a nice touch and added legitimacy to this sequels forced existence.
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Stars: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Driven)
Burt Young (Rocky, Back to School)
YesNoSoso: 1
To start off, my love of Rocky almost got a movie as God-awful as Rocky V a 1 rating, so the 1 rating for Rocky Balboa isn't exactly telling of its overall quality. It would have had to be really bad, like Rocky V bad, for it to not receive at least a 1. With that being sad, Rocky Balboa is a decent movie. It certainly doesn't live up to the solid awesomeness of the first one, nor the over the top ridiculousness of 3 and 4, but it is a surprisingly quality flick. Surprising because I, like most, thought it would suck. The theme of an older fighter looking to get "the beast" out was a nice touch and added legitimacy to this sequels forced existence.
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Clerks II (2006)
Director: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jersey Girl)
Stars: Brian O'Halloran (Clerks, nothingness)
Jeff Anderson (Clerks, nothingness)
YesNoSoso: 0
I enjoy the works of Kevin Smith, especially "Dogma", "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back". He is extremely clever, vulgar and usually quite funny, but when his movie's miss, they miss big (Jersey Girl). I don't think I've given a Kevin Smith movie a 1 rating. Its not that this movie isn't funny, it is at some points, but its not as constantly funny as "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and that one was barely funny enough to make up for the lack of fundamental film elements. There is barely a plot to this movie, the acting is as expected from a comedy and there is zero novelty of style. The jokes are not even that witty, just shock value humor.
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Stars: Brian O'Halloran (Clerks, nothingness)
Jeff Anderson (Clerks, nothingness)
YesNoSoso: 0
I enjoy the works of Kevin Smith, especially "Dogma", "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back". He is extremely clever, vulgar and usually quite funny, but when his movie's miss, they miss big (Jersey Girl). I don't think I've given a Kevin Smith movie a 1 rating. Its not that this movie isn't funny, it is at some points, but its not as constantly funny as "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and that one was barely funny enough to make up for the lack of fundamental film elements. There is barely a plot to this movie, the acting is as expected from a comedy and there is zero novelty of style. The jokes are not even that witty, just shock value humor.
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Children of Men (2006)
Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mama Tabien, Great Expectations)
Stars: Clive Owen (Sin City, Shoot 'em Up)
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Evolution)
YesNoSoso: 2
I rarely speak in extremes, hence the blog devoted to rating movies on a 3 point scale, but this was the best movie of 2006 hands down. To tell you anything about it would cheapen its redonkulousness. If you haven't seen this movie, do so immediately. If you have seen this movie and disagree with my assessment of it, commit suicide immediately, you are unworthy of this world.
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Stars: Clive Owen (Sin City, Shoot 'em Up)
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Evolution)
YesNoSoso: 2
I rarely speak in extremes, hence the blog devoted to rating movies on a 3 point scale, but this was the best movie of 2006 hands down. To tell you anything about it would cheapen its redonkulousness. If you haven't seen this movie, do so immediately. If you have seen this movie and disagree with my assessment of it, commit suicide immediately, you are unworthy of this world.
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The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Director: Noah Baumbach (I've never seen anything else by this guy)
Stars: Jeff Daniels (Good Night and Good Luck, Pleasantville)
Laura Linney (Mystic River, Congo)
YesNoSoso: 1
As will always be the case with movies that get a YesNoSoso 1, I don't have a lot to say about The Squid and the Whale. Solid acting performances from "Dumb", as well as the entire cast. The plot is intersting but not wholly original. I was entertained by this family drama but not overwhelmed.
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Stars: Jeff Daniels (Good Night and Good Luck, Pleasantville)
Laura Linney (Mystic River, Congo)
YesNoSoso: 1
As will always be the case with movies that get a YesNoSoso 1, I don't have a lot to say about The Squid and the Whale. Solid acting performances from "Dumb", as well as the entire cast. The plot is intersting but not wholly original. I was entertained by this family drama but not overwhelmed.
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28 Weeks Later (2008)
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intacto)
Stars: Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Eragon)
Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Wicker Park)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love a good horror movie, but if forced to give the horror genre as a whole a YesNoSoso ranking it would be an emphatic 0. 99.999% of horror movies are awful. Same goes for sequels (It is the next installment of 28 Days Later). The Washington Generals have a higher success rate than the average horror film and are way more entertaining. That's why I'm so stoked when I come across a truley good one (I can think of very few horror movies or sequels with YesNoSoso 1's and even less 2's). 28 Weeks Later, however, pulls it off. The exploration of life after the virus is both believable and interesting. Many times sequels seem forced (Matrix Revolutions, Spiderman 3, almost every other sequel), but a truly good sequel subconsiously merges the subsequent plot into a encapselating story arc (Godfather II, Spiderman II). 28 Weeks Later accomplishes this rare feat in a very entertaining movie.
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Stars: Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Eragon)
Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Wicker Park)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love a good horror movie, but if forced to give the horror genre as a whole a YesNoSoso ranking it would be an emphatic 0. 99.999% of horror movies are awful. Same goes for sequels (It is the next installment of 28 Days Later). The Washington Generals have a higher success rate than the average horror film and are way more entertaining. That's why I'm so stoked when I come across a truley good one (I can think of very few horror movies or sequels with YesNoSoso 1's and even less 2's). 28 Weeks Later, however, pulls it off. The exploration of life after the virus is both believable and interesting. Many times sequels seem forced (Matrix Revolutions, Spiderman 3, almost every other sequel), but a truly good sequel subconsiously merges the subsequent plot into a encapselating story arc (Godfather II, Spiderman II). 28 Weeks Later accomplishes this rare feat in a very entertaining movie.
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The King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Director: Seth Gordan (I've never seen anything else he's done but he's doing Four Christmases so I'm skeptical on his staying power)
Stars: Steve Wiebe (not an actor)
Billy Mitchell (not an actor, Perfect Pac-man Score)
YesNoSoso: 2
Jesus Tap Dancing Christ this movie was good. It follows impossibly nice, recently laid off Steve Wiebe as he tries to break cocky asshole Billy Mitchell's World Record on Donkey Kong. I spent the entire two hours unsuccessfully trying to figure whether King of Kong was a real Documentary or a Mockumentary in the style of Spinal Tap or Best in Show. Its real folks and even knowing that, the people, and the actions they take in this movie, will still lead you to question its legitimacy. See this movie immediatley.
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Stars: Steve Wiebe (not an actor)
Billy Mitchell (not an actor, Perfect Pac-man Score)
YesNoSoso: 2
Jesus Tap Dancing Christ this movie was good. It follows impossibly nice, recently laid off Steve Wiebe as he tries to break cocky asshole Billy Mitchell's World Record on Donkey Kong. I spent the entire two hours unsuccessfully trying to figure whether King of Kong was a real Documentary or a Mockumentary in the style of Spinal Tap or Best in Show. Its real folks and even knowing that, the people, and the actions they take in this movie, will still lead you to question its legitimacy. See this movie immediatley.
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Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter (Toy Story, Toy Story 2)
Stars: Owen Wilson (The Royal Tennebaums, Anaconda)
Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Message in a Bottle)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love Pixar. Its as simple as that. I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie despite its genre and children films are no exception. With that said however, Cars is definitely of the bottom tier of Pixar films. I attribute this (fairly or unfairly) to the director. Lasseter's list of Pixar projects (The Toy Story's, A Bug's Life) trend noticably worse then his Pixar collegue Brad Bird (Ratatouille, The Incredibles [although Iron Giant is a YesNoSoso 0]). Despite being vastly overshadowed by Bird's masterpieces, Cars is still a beautiful work of art and very entertaining.
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Stars: Owen Wilson (The Royal Tennebaums, Anaconda)
Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Message in a Bottle)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love Pixar. Its as simple as that. I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie despite its genre and children films are no exception. With that said however, Cars is definitely of the bottom tier of Pixar films. I attribute this (fairly or unfairly) to the director. Lasseter's list of Pixar projects (The Toy Story's, A Bug's Life) trend noticably worse then his Pixar collegue Brad Bird (Ratatouille, The Incredibles [although Iron Giant is a YesNoSoso 0]). Despite being vastly overshadowed by Bird's masterpieces, Cars is still a beautiful work of art and very entertaining.
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Cape Fear (1991)
Director: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, Michael Jackson's "Bad" Video)
Stars: Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull, The Fan)
Nick Nolte (A Thin Red Line, 48 Hrs)
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its sad that I haven't seen this movie until 2008, but it was well worth the wait. Anybody that knows me I'm a sucker for gimmicks and honoring classic works with homages and Cape Fear hooked me from the beginning. From classic Hitchcock/Film Noirish opening credits to the clever and unforced inclusion of the main stars of the original, Cape Fear can be appreciated on a number of levels. These artistic details are smoothly incorporated into a very solid movie displaying an excellent pace (just a side note, I see pace as the most "subconsious" barameter of a movies quality. How well a movie that progresses logically and enthrallingly is very crucial to the overall experience)
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Stars: Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull, The Fan)
Nick Nolte (A Thin Red Line, 48 Hrs)
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its sad that I haven't seen this movie until 2008, but it was well worth the wait. Anybody that knows me I'm a sucker for gimmicks and honoring classic works with homages and Cape Fear hooked me from the beginning. From classic Hitchcock/Film Noirish opening credits to the clever and unforced inclusion of the main stars of the original, Cape Fear can be appreciated on a number of levels. These artistic details are smoothly incorporated into a very solid movie displaying an excellent pace (just a side note, I see pace as the most "subconsious" barameter of a movies quality. How well a movie that progresses logically and enthrallingly is very crucial to the overall experience)
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9/9/08
Human Nature (2001)
Director: Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dave Chappelle's Block Party)
Stars: Patricia Arquette (True Romance, Medium)
Rhys Ifans (The Replacements, Little Nicky [i know they're both terrible])
YesNoSoso: 2
Totally underappreciated movie by one of my favorite directors. Gondry might not always hit with his outlandish ideas, but his movies are always unique and entertaining. Teamed with one of my favorite writers, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) This story, of a scientist and a naturalist studying a man they found raised in nature, is actually considerably more "normal" then either the director's or writer's usual work. Human Nature is funny, incredibly intelligent and extremely entertaining.
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Stars: Patricia Arquette (True Romance, Medium)
Rhys Ifans (The Replacements, Little Nicky [i know they're both terrible])
YesNoSoso: 2
Totally underappreciated movie by one of my favorite directors. Gondry might not always hit with his outlandish ideas, but his movies are always unique and entertaining. Teamed with one of my favorite writers, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) This story, of a scientist and a naturalist studying a man they found raised in nature, is actually considerably more "normal" then either the director's or writer's usual work. Human Nature is funny, incredibly intelligent and extremely entertaining.
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9/8/08
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Director (and Star): Ben Stiller (Zoolander, Permanent Midnight)
Stars: Robert Downing Jr. (Iron Man, Back to School)
Jack Black (Tenacious D, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 2
It's movies like this that make me regret my tertiary rating system. That is especially surprising knowing its a comedy and its main star is Ben Stiller ("I'm such a nice guy, but bad things happen to me!! OOH NO!). It just really is that good. I've heard rave reviews from casual movie goers that loved Starsky and Hutch (ugh) to hard core film geeks. Combine Robert Downing Jr showcasing his incredible acting ability with a genuinely witty commentary on the endless Hollywood bullshit train and you have a great movie that is hilarious, not just a hilarious movie.
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Stars: Robert Downing Jr. (Iron Man, Back to School)
Jack Black (Tenacious D, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 2
It's movies like this that make me regret my tertiary rating system. That is especially surprising knowing its a comedy and its main star is Ben Stiller ("I'm such a nice guy, but bad things happen to me!! OOH NO!). It just really is that good. I've heard rave reviews from casual movie goers that loved Starsky and Hutch (ugh) to hard core film geeks. Combine Robert Downing Jr showcasing his incredible acting ability with a genuinely witty commentary on the endless Hollywood bullshit train and you have a great movie that is hilarious, not just a hilarious movie.
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Beerfest (2006)
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Stars: Broken Lizard (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Donald Sutherland (Mash, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
YesNoSoso: 0
A number of people told me to watch this movie claiming that Broken Lizard had gotten back to their Super Troopers roots. They didn't. This movie sucks. I would say something more witty and degrading but I want the true horror of this movie to shine through. Do not see it.
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Stars: Broken Lizard (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Donald Sutherland (Mash, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
YesNoSoso: 0
A number of people told me to watch this movie claiming that Broken Lizard had gotten back to their Super Troopers roots. They didn't. This movie sucks. I would say something more witty and degrading but I want the true horror of this movie to shine through. Do not see it.
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American Gangster (2007)
Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, White Squall)
Stars: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Virtuosity)
Russel Crowe (3:10 to Yuma, Fightin 'Round the World)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid movie driven by solid performances by Denzel and Crowe. Further helped by an incredible supporting cast that included great work by RZA, Common, Josh Brolin, TI and Ruby Dee. Plus Russel Crowe plays a jew.
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Stars: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Virtuosity)
Russel Crowe (3:10 to Yuma, Fightin 'Round the World)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid movie driven by solid performances by Denzel and Crowe. Further helped by an incredible supporting cast that included great work by RZA, Common, Josh Brolin, TI and Ruby Dee. Plus Russel Crowe plays a jew.
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Atonement (2007)
Director: Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice)
Stars: Kiera Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean, Domino)
James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 2
I was stunned. I know it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but I expected a campy love story with beautiful cinematography and a cookie cutter plot. It had the cinematography but it was also incredibly entertaining on a number of levels. Great performances from all including youngun Saorise Ronan, interesting storytelling device and an excellent ending. A love story movie that can make me cringe with the gore of war? That's fun for the whole family.
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Stars: Kiera Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean, Domino)
James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 2
I was stunned. I know it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but I expected a campy love story with beautiful cinematography and a cookie cutter plot. It had the cinematography but it was also incredibly entertaining on a number of levels. Great performances from all including youngun Saorise Ronan, interesting storytelling device and an excellent ending. A love story movie that can make me cringe with the gore of war? That's fun for the whole family.
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9/4/08
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Director: James Mangold (Walk the Line, Kate and Leopold)
Stars: Christian Bale (Batman Begins, Shaft)
Russel Crowe (Gladiator, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 2
If you are a western fan, you should love this movie. Amazing performances from Christian Bale and Russel Crowe (I know shocking). I felt that Bale and Crowe should've switched parts, but that may be because I'm not the biggest Crowe fan and his character was more interesting. I will not lie, the ending comes a bit out of left field, but doesn't hurt the movie enough to warrant a pedestrian 1 rating.
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Stars: Christian Bale (Batman Begins, Shaft)
Russel Crowe (Gladiator, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 2
If you are a western fan, you should love this movie. Amazing performances from Christian Bale and Russel Crowe (I know shocking). I felt that Bale and Crowe should've switched parts, but that may be because I'm not the biggest Crowe fan and his character was more interesting. I will not lie, the ending comes a bit out of left field, but doesn't hurt the movie enough to warrant a pedestrian 1 rating.
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