Van_Dammer

Mannequin

Jonathan Switcher (Andrew McCarthy), a struggling artist, is down on his luck and seems to fail at whatever he does. However, things soon change when a mannequin he made magically comes to life...

 

Mannequin definitely isn't the type of film that would be nominated for any oscars. It's a light and entertaining viewing experience that's often silly, quite romantic in its own strange way and provides a strong feel-good factor.

 

Andrew McCarthy is pretty weak in the lead role, but Kim Cattrall is the highlight of this movie. She brings it to life, pardon the pun, by giving a surprisingly decent performance.

 

Overall, Mannequin isn't anything special, but has enough charm to make it worthwhile. It's a romcom with '1980s' written all over it.

SpaceballsI heard this movie was supposed to be funny. Whoever told me this was talking a big pile of shit. Probably the worst spoof movie I have ever come across.

I have to disagree. Spaceballs may not be as good as Mel Brooks' other films, such as Young Frankenstein, but by no means is it bad. In my opinion, it's a consistently funny spoof that's well-directed, filled with witty and generally funny lines and an abundance of slapstick. CarsIn this animated family film, Lightning McQueen, a famous race car, is en route to a huge event, but winds up in Radiator Springs, a rundown town. After accidentally damaging the main road there, he can't leave until he repairs it.I like the concept behind this movie. We've already seen animals, toys and various other things personified in similar films, but I think cars can be given personality more effectively than, say, a group of ants. For example, it doesn't get much better than a low rider voiced by Cheech Marin of Cheech & Chong fame. A cocky race car also seems like a perfect fit, unlike a hypochondriac giraffe, as seen in Madagascar.Cars begins on a high note as Lightning McQueen's fast-paced environment is the first element of the story that the audience is introduced to. Immediately, the film creates a good impression, visually. The establishing wide shots are great and feature a surprising amount of detail and the vivid colours will immediately capture the interest of any younger viewers. Some of the night shots used throughout Cars are equally as nice.The film begins to suffer during the middle, though. Despite its running time of two hours, I wouldn't say that it drags; it's just weaker at this point. There's less emphasis on the humour after McQueen has been in Radiator Springs for a while as the conventional elements of the story become more significant. It does become fairly cheesy as there's a montage of the town's history, which is set to a country song about how important it is to the cars that inhabit it. The song is honestly like something Matt Stone and Trey Parker would produce as a hammy parody.Thankfully, Cars quickly picks up again, though, and doesn't become as predictable as you'd assume, either. The humour also gradually builds towards the end, which is just as entertaining as the beginning. So, whilst Cars definitely isn't Pixar's best film and there is room for improvement, it's a solid attempt. At the very least, it'll keep you entertained and, judging from the trailers prior to it, Cars looks far superior to the sting of animated films about to be released. There's the uninspired bastard child of Antz and A Bug's Life, The Ant Bully. In another seemingly cheap attempt to cash-in on the interest of animated family films, we have Happy Feet, the story of a dancing penguin. Even the overrated Steven Spielberg is jumping on the bandwagon.

Anna Faris fucking sucks, ahhhh i hate that mong!

She's not a particularly good actress, but, in my opinion, Faris does well in the simple, albiet limited, roles that she's cast in. Trading PlacesTwo rich commodity brokers agree to a wager that switches the positions of a street criminal (Eddie Murphy) and an upperclass investor (Dan Aykroyd).Trading Places is regarded as a classic comedy by many and it's easy to see why. It features an engaging and somewhat thought-provoking story that even provides a small degree of social commentary through its main characters. Eddie Murphy, who was in his absolute prime, gives a brilliant performance and so does Dan Aykroyd. They're both brilliant on screen and act their parts flawlessly, making even the simplest lines very funny. With John Landis' once-great direction and a script loaded with funny dialogue, Trading Places is a real gem. It don't think it's aged as well as some other comedies, but it's still an excellent movie.

Dawn Of The Dead (1978)

Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

During the first fifteen minutes or so, Dawn Of The Dead really failed to maintain my interest. From that point onward, though, I enjoyed it as it begins to build nicely and creates a great atmosphere. It becomes increasingly significant that time is running out for the four protagonists and that fending for their survival is going to become nearly impossible. Every element of the film comes together perfectly towards the end and results in a fantastic, gory climax.In overview, Dawn Of The Dead isn't as consistently gory as I had hoped. However, there is a degree of focus on character development and films subtext instead, which are definitely important. Nonetheless, the ending alone is violent and visceral enough to keep any horror fan happy.It's very rarely that I say this about a film, but I actually think the remake is better. Neither can touch Night Of The Living Dead (1968), though.The Hot Chick

Jessica (Rachel McAdams), an attractive and popular teenager, who is mean spirited toward others, finds herself in the body of an older man (Rob Schneider), and must find a way to get back to her original body.

Firstly; Yes, Rob Schneider is shit, but he's strangley bareable and sometimes funny in this film. Perhaps it's because The Hot Chick relies on its slapstick comedy, dialogue, gross-out moments and most of the major cast as opposed to mainly his performance.Anna Faris, who plays Jessica's best friend, is perfect as a gormless character. She plays it somewhat differently to her role as Cindy in the Scary Movie films, but her mannerisms and reactions, although more subtle at times, fundamentally remain the same. Either way, Faris is absolutely beautiful in The Hot Chick. There's some nice eye candy with the likes of her and Rachel McAdams in this film, alongside minor appearances from Ashlee Simpson and Tia and Tamera Mowry.Overall, The Hot Chick isn't as bad you'd assume. It has a pretty simple premise and is essentially an average teen flick, but it's enjoyable and provides a few very funny scenes. It's guilty pleasure material.

Cruel Intentions

Spoiled upperclass step-siblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) agree upon a wager of sexual conquest. If Sebastian can't bed Annette (Reese Witherspoon), an innocent virgin, Katherin gets his classic car. If he succeeds, Sebastian gets Kathryn.

 

Cruel Intentions definitely exceeded my expectations. This tale of seduction and revenge is far superior to most movies that it's associated with. With a compelling story, good characters, elements of humour and a darker, edgier tone, it's enjoyable and somewhat different.

 

The acting is also surprisingly good. Sarah Michelle Gellar, in particular, plays her role to absolute perfection. She's great as a devilish vixen, who hides her true personality when required, so she can capitalize on every opportunity. Plus, Gellar looks incredible as a brunnette.

 

Cruel Intentions is competently directed and, technically, well-suited to the dark nature of the film. However, I disliked that it occasionally deviated from this. It's a shame that there are several instances of predictable dialogue and a few cliched and cheesy scenes. Thankfully, they don't totally ruin the movie, though.

 

So, whilst Cruel Intentions may not be a landmark film, it's much better than people often give it credit for.

Casshern

In the aftermath of a great war, the world is riddled with disease and pollution. A scientist, Dr. Azuma, asks the government to fund his neo-cell research, hoping to develop a cure that will heal any ailments and even the severest of injuries. He is refused the funding, though, and subsequently accepts a secret offer to work in a military lab. However, a malfunction in the equipment spawns a race of destructive mutants. The warrior known as Casshern must save the human race.

 

To begin with, this film is outstanding. It has an interesting premise, effectively conveys the state of the environment and establishes its characters well. Within the first few minutes, it offers an insight into Dr. Azumi's back story and you fully understand his noble motives and exactly why he's so adamant to pursue his research.

 

Quickly shifting from Sci-Fi to nearly a total superhero movie, Casshern is introduced soon after and combats the mutants. The movie begins to suffer at this point. It's apparently based on an anime and the transition to live action doesn't work too well. A significant amount of it seems over-the-top and as though it actually belongs in a cartoon or comic.

 

Nonetheless, the action is spectacular. Coupled with breathtaking cinematography and excellent direction, Casshern is a visual feast. The fight scenes are very stylish and possibly the most memorable that I've seen in a while. Unfortunately, some other parts of the film are a letdown. For instance, there are lots of amazing landscapes and sights that should be emphasized, but are only shown for a couple of seconds.

 

Towards the end, pacing becomes a major factor. The story needs to develop at a faster rate. Casshern is approximately two and a half hours long and, considering the genre, it really should be about thirty minutes shorter.

 

Overall, Casshern is a good film that doesn't reach its true potential. If done better, it could be brilliant. Check it out if you're a fan of Asian cinema/anime and want to watch a visually-pleasing film with a plot that's easy to follow.

 

Oh, and the main theme is by Utada Hikaru, whose song Wings is an immense guilty pleasure of mine.

Currently watching Goodfellas, I'm about an hour in and I'm wondering when its gonna get good.

You really should watch a film in one uninterrupted sitting, without any distractions or doing anything else, like posting on a forum.

Other than the movie, have you seen much Family Guy, Van_Dammer?

Yes. The first season was good and it was lackluster thereafter.

Stewie Griffin - The Untold StoryAfter a near-death experience, Stewie tries to find his real father.Mildly entertaining at best and inconceivably overrated, just like Family Guy.

Whilst I dont agree that the movie is overrated...

It has an 8/10 on the IMDB. That's higher than the ratings for the likes of Animal House, Gozu, The Big Lebowski, Anchorman, Visitor Q, The Omen, The Exorcist, Audition, Akira, Young Frankenstein, Airplane and The Naked Gun.I don't necessarily go by the IMDB ratings, but for Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story to be ranked above or even slightly below any of the aforementioned films anywhere is insane. At the very most, it deserves a 4 or 5/10. It's a poorly executed film that drags beyond belief.

Fist Of The North Star

In a distant future, a nuclear holocaust has ravaged the Earth and divided mankind. In a time of great oppression, a man named Kenshiro could become the savior of the weak as he seeks vengeance.

 

This 1986 anime, not to be confused with the terrible 1995 live action film, is awesome. It tells a good story and it's filled with great action, which mainly consists of uncompromisingly violent fight scenes. Combined with cool dialogue and badass characters, the result is a thoroughly entertaining movie.

 

Fist Of The North Star looks fantastic, too. The landscapes mostly comprise of old ruins, barren fields and generally creative scenary. The colour schemes compliment the settings well and truly aid the film in creating its own world.

 

In short, this is an easily enjoyable film that's definitely worth watching if you're anime lover.

 

Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story

After a near-death experience, Stewie tries to find his real father.

 

Mildly entertaining at best and inconceivably overrated, just like Family Guy.

 

Mallrats

Best friends TS (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee) have both been dumped. So, they hang out at the mall...

 

Mallrats, Kevin Smith's 1995 film, is a good comedy that succeeds because its main characters are down to Earth. TS and Brodie are typical guys who are too obsessed with their own respective worlds. Their girlfriends, Rene (Shannen Doherty) and Brandi (Claire Forlani), feel as though they're in unfulfilling relationships and go in search of more romance.

 

The characters are essentially in a ridiculous and exaggarated world, though, which works well because of the contrast. Jay and Silent Bob, who are definitely part of that zany world, are used sparingly and very effectively in this film. Jay, in particular, is brilliant and quite possibly the funniest thing about Mallrats, although it does boast some decent material and a number of hilarious moments.

 

Unfortunately, this film suffers because of the hammy storyline. It almost becomes a typical Hollywood teen comedy.

 

Overall, though, Mallrats is a silly and enjoyable movie. Plus, it stars the beautiful Claire Forlani, which is certainly a positive.

Blazing Saddles This is the first Mel Brooks directed flick I have seen, and I have to say it was pure comedic brillance

You'll love Young Frankenstein.

Richard Pryor - Live On The Sunset Strip

In this stand-up from 1982, Richard Pryor touches on a number of subjects, such as racism, relationships, his recent trip to Africa and experiences with drugs.

 

Pryor is nothing short of brilliant in this performance. The material is good, but his impeccable timing and delivery makes Live On The Sunset Strip a definite classic. Pryor comes across as genuinely funny throughout, especially when he talks about the filming of Stir Crazy, and his vivid personality makes him extremely likeable. Accordingly, the crowd are great during the show and seem to love every minute of it.

 

Live On The Sunset Strip isn't as explicit as most other stand-ups, such as Eddie Murphy's Raw, as Pryor usually finds humour in the simplest things. However, it's clear that he had a huge influence on Murphy and many other comedians.

MagnoliaI liked it.

So...niether great nor overly pretentious...?

Great.

Magnolia

A film about several interlinked characters and their peculiar interaction with each other over the course of one day in San Fernando Valley, California.

 

Through the stories presented, there are a number of themes apparent in Magnolia, which are absolutely pivotal to the film. As it progresses, you'll understand the common elements in each case. With a running time of over three hours, this film is lengthy, but remains engaging and truly feels like an epic drama.

 

The direction, use of music and acting are all magnificent. John C Reilly, Jason Robards, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Melora Walters, Julianne Moore and Philip Baker Hall seem perfect in their roles. However, Tom Cruise's performance really stood out to me. It's practically common knowledge that he's perceived as somewhat of a lunatic nowadays - I, personally, came to that conclusion after he split with Penelope Cruz - but he can act and I don't think you have to look much further than Magnolia to evidence that.

 

Anyway, Mangolia is a fim that you'll either consider to be great or overly pretentious. I liked it.

The Omen (1976)

Katherine Thorn (Lee Remick), wife of the an American ambassador, has a stillborn child. Unbeknownst to Katherine, her husband, Robert, then immediately 'adopts' a baby boy and passes it off as their own. After a few years, a series of horrific incidents occur as it is revealed that the boy, Damien, is the Antichrist.

 

The Omen is superb. Fundamentally, it tells a brilliant story that gradually escalates and builds perfectly. The number of bizarre happenings that seem to involve Damien have a great impact, during which, you can't help but think about the position that his parents are in. Likewise, every aspect of the plot is interesting. You genuinely want to know how it's all going to develop and about the true involvement of the other characters, like the photographer and the nanny, Mrs. Baylock, who appears to be very close to Damien.

 

Billie Whitelaw, who plays Mrs. Baylock, definitely delivers the best performance in this film. She's incredible in her portrayal of a creepy, evil individual. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are well-cast, too, but Whitelaw deserves a lot of praise for being, arguably, one of the scariest things about The Omen.

 

Overall, The Omen isn't necessarily scary in the sense that it'll shock you or make you jump, though, like most modern horrors do. It's a chilling, haunting movie that relies heavily on the concepts presented and the atmosphere that it creates. The result is exceptional and the film features many memorable scenes. However, Damien vs. the red-assed baboons could have been better.

 

Anyway, The Omen is, undoubtedly, a classic that'll stay with you for a long time.

Just watched Lucky Number Slevin again, but this time it was a proper DVD not one of those taped from the back of the cinema deals. Absolutely awesome film, the bloke that played The Rabbi was especially great I thought.According to Amazon Memento and The Usual Suspects are similar to it, are they any good? I know nothing of movies.Also, its seems impossible to find Narc. Did you download it Van_Dammer?

I've never even heard of Narc.As for Memento, it's not really similar to Lucky Number Slevin, but it's still a tremendous film. I haven't seen The Usual Suspects, so I can't comment.

Carly Pope

She's extremely underappreciated, in my opinion...Animal HouseSet in 1962, this comedy is about the Delta House Fraternity at Faber College and Dean Vernon Wormer's (John Vernon) efforts to have them all expelled. From start to finish, I really enjoyed this film. Essentially, the premise is very basic, but the execution is flawless. Animal House is filled with an abundance of funny scenes and classic lines, some of which are totally random, like during the mini-road trip and toga party, and a great set of characters.This movie works well because the characters that you're supposed to support are all incredibly likeable. John Belushi, who plays Bluto, delivers a showstealing performance. He's excellent as an idiotic drunk and everything he does on-screen is brilliant. Stephen Furst and Kevin Bacon, in his film debut, are pretty good, too. Released in 1978, it's obvious that Animal House acts as the blueprint for nearly every other college comedy that's followed it, in terms of the story, content and characters. If you liked Old School, you should definitely check this film out...In short, Animal House is a funny and entertaining film that you can't help but love because it has so much charm. It's an immature, lewd and perverted classic. Toga! Toga!

The Jacket

A wounded war veteran who suffers from amnesia, Jack Starks (Adrien Brody), is accused of murdering a police officer. He is then sent to an asylum, where he becomes subject to the controversial experiments of Dr. Becker. Whilst undergoing 'therapy,' Starks has visions of the future.

 

The Jacket has a decent story to it. Although it's rather slow to begin with, it definitely becomes more intriguing as everything unravels.

 

The performances are quite disappointing, though. In this film, Adrien Brody is mediocre and Keira Knightley is terrible. Her American accent is totally unconvincing; you can tell that she's putting it on and isn't comfortable with it. Additionally, Knightley appears to have no idea of how to portray an alcoholic. I could be wrong, but chewing your own face and biting a glass isn't the right way to do it.

 

Overall, The Jacket is about average. It's an alright thriller that'll help you kill two hours.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring

The tale of a young monk, whose master aims to teach him the ways of the Buddha.

 

The story remains basic throughout, but is pretty effective in conveying its message. Through the events shown and the experiences of the younk monk, the recurring themes of morality and spirituality are certainly evident.

 

The film moves at a gradual and consistent pace as it aims to present everything in a calm and rather peaceful manner. Fittingly, it's filled with tranquil landscapes and imagery. However, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring really failed to maintain my interest at times. In my opinion, it becomes very boring towards the middle.

 

Overall, this film is average and considerably overrated. It's not the masterpiece that some claim it is and it's not essential.

Match Point

Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Former tennis player-turned instructor meets Tom Hewett, a man from a very privileged background. As he becomes close to the Hewitt family, Tom's sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer) falls for him. However, Chris has fallen for Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), Tom's fiancee.

 

Match Point is a film with huge emphasis on character development. The majority of it is used in this respect and it's extremely effective as you genuinely begin to care about or take interest in each individual, which is important because your perception alters as the story progresses. This is especially true with Chris Wilton. There's also a number of layers to this well-written tale and some great twists, too.

 

Much credit must be given to Woody Allen, who wrote and directed this film.

 

I have two main criticisms, though. The first is the films pacing. Granted, Match Point covers a lengthy diegetic time span, but, to me, some parts of it seem too drawn out and others seem rushed. It actually makes it rather dull at certain points.

 

MAJOR SPOILERS

Lucky Number Slevin

Mistaken for a man named Nick Fisher, Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett) becomes caught up in the feud between two rival gangster clans as he cannot pay a debt that is owed to them.

 

Lucky Number Slevin is a tremendous film. It has an interesting premise, the execution is perfect and it certainly manages to maintain your attention throughout. Combining some great action and suspense and dabbling in elements of noir, the story becomes remarkably dark at certain points.

 

Accordingly, this film is rather explicit and features a few instances of violence. Although quite graphic, I wouldn't say that it's too extreme or excessive. It really never goes beyond people being shot or severely beaten...

 

Much to my delight, Josh Hartnett's performance is outstanding. In my opinion, he's a criminally underrated actor. Alongside Hartnett is a talented cast, comprising of the likes of Lucy Liu, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley. They're all good in this movie, too.

 

Although you could probably nitpick a couple of facets of Lucky Number Slevin, it's a truly engaging, intense and entertaining film. I rate it very highly.

Thanks, Larryboy. I completely forgot about Savage's 'diss track'...

Is there any real-life tension between Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan?

Project 313

Parrish and Machette are two friends from the projects of Detroit. After Machette is released from juvenile detention, he and Parrish devise plan a robbery.

 

Although it sounds relatively simple, Project 313 actually has a pretty good plot. It's unfortunate that nearly every other aspect of it is either poor or mediocre. Most notably, the story is seriously let down by the faux-gangster dialogue.

 

It's immediately evident that the production values, even for an independent film, are terrible. The audio levels fluctuate, dialogue often alternates from the left to right channel as if there was a problem with the mic and there's considerable hiss throughout many scenes, which either increases or decreases when the camera cuts back to certain things.

 

Nevertheless, the direction isn't bad. There's an array of elaborate shots, which show the filmmaker's potential.

 

As a whole, Project 313, being an independent film, is a decent attempt, but I don't ever intend on watching it again.

I don't think she looks as good nowadays, but I wouldn't mind giving her a pearl necklace.