Dell's Good, Bad & Ugly Movie Reviews

[dell71]

Fast and Furious
2009. Rated PG-13, 107 minutes.
Director: Justin Lin.
Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz.

Plot: Street racer/career criminal Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and street racer/undercover cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) reunite to find out who's responsible for the death of Toretto's girlfriend Leti (Michelle Rodriguez).

The Good: With Vin Diesel back in the fold, it really does recapture the magic of the original. Strangely, it positions itself as if 2 Fast 2 Furious never existed and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift has yet to. Given the failures both movies were, it's a wise choice (though I will say 2 Fast is at least a fun and forgivable failure while Tokyo Drift is completely atrocious and therefore, unforgivable). The writers wisely throw in lost of references to the original, adding depth to the current story. Ultimately, it's a stupid movie, but its stupidity is on par with the original. This means, its just smart enough to be exactly what it wants to: a live action, but cgi enhanced, version of a Need for Speed video game.* Of course, this means there are plenty of adrenalin pumping car chases, races and stunts.

The Bad: Like I said, its a stupid movie. Anyone expecting Citizen Kane on Wheels need not bother. There's lots of testosterone driven, brutish and competitive dialogue they seemed to have picked up from 300's cutting room floor. When people are not trying to get each other to fight, they're blaming O'Conner for something. The "twist" in the movie is cute but predictable, mostly because they drop a rather large hint that should've been edited out. Finally, as has been the case with the entire series, everyone overacts. Nearly every line is delivered like its the climactic scene in a Shakespearian tragedy but written like its two grade schoolers setting up an afterschool brawl.

The Ugly: Even though there are foreign cars everywhere, the movie still takes a shot at them when a yahoo fringe character barks "Muscle beats import every time!" Really? If that were so then maybe our auto industry wouldn't be in the shape...wait...this is just a movie review. Sorry.

Recommendation: If you're a fan of the original, or the series in general, have at it. I can see some thinking this is the best of the lot. Personally, I think its just a shade below the original but far better than the others. That still doesn't make it Oscar winning material so check your expectations, and your brain at the DVD menu screen. This is pure popcorn fluff that's not too bad as popcorn fluff goes.

The Opposite View: Connie Ogle, Miami Herald

What the Internet Says: 6.7/10 on imdb.com (8/21/09), 28% on rottentomatoes.com, 45/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 6/10

*I believe the original is actually what inspired the Need for Speed franchise but I could have my timeline mixed up.

[young2rice]

Yeah definately NFS was out well before the movie. First NFS game was 1994, first movie was 2001. (Unless you're talking about the 1939/1955 movies Fast and Furious)

[Ralnakor]

Yeah definately NFS was out well before the movie. First NFS game was 1994, first movie was 2001. (Unless you're talking about the 1939/1955 movies Fast and Furious)

I think he meant the more recent tuner car versions of the game ala NFS: Most Wanted being the first of those. I of course could be wrong.

[trojan49er]

Ralkanor you're on the right rack, but they started with NFS Underground which came out in 2003, two years after 1Fast. Whether or not you want to say 1Fast lead to the production of NFSU1 or not is up to you, but the success of 1Fast definitely influenced the success of and the creation of both NFSU1 and its several followups

[dell71]

Ralkanor you're on the right rack, but they started with NFS Underground which came out in 2003, two years after 1Fast. Whether or not you want to say 1Fast lead to the production of NFSU1 or not is up to you, but the success of 1Fast definitely influenced the success of and the creation of both NFSU1 and its several followups

This is what I was looking for.

[Ralnakor]

Ralkanor you're on the right rack, but they started with NFS Underground which came out in 2003, two years after 1Fast. Whether or not you want to say 1Fast lead to the production of NFSU1 or not is up to you, but the success of 1Fast definitely influenced the success of and the creation of both NFSU1 and its several followups

That's right, not sure why, but I thought Most Wanted was before Underground for some reason.

[Nukleopatra]

Dell, I was forced to watch some psycho kids movie called "The Golden Compass". I thought it was terrible, but on the DVD cover it says Roger Ebert gave the movie 4 stars. Have you seen this movie?

Ebert gave Garfield and Land of the lost 3 stars.

The guy is an old, washed up, senile fool.

[Buzzman]

I liked Fast and Furious but cant understand how Connor became an FBI agent again.

[Nukleopatra]

I liked Fast and Furious but cant understand how Connor became an FBI agent again.

You liked one of the worst movies of the year?

How about the ending? I almost pissed myself laughing. If I honestly thought they meant to make one of the worst movies of the year, I would have given them more credit than I did.

[dell71]

You liked one of the worst movies of the year?

How about the ending? I almost pissed myself laughing. If I honestly thought they meant to make one of the worst movies of the year, I would have given them more credit than I did.

For me, I had exceptionally low expectations going in & it was still a whole lot better than Tokyo Drift.

[Nukleopatra]

For me, I had exceptionally low expectations going in & it was still a whole lot better than Tokyo Drift.

I disagree.

I actually think it's the worst of the series... and one of the worst of 2009.

[dell71]

Obsessed
2009. Rated PG-13, 108 minutes.
Director: Steve Shill.
Starring Idris Elba, Ali Larter, Beyonce Knowles, Jerry O'Connell.

Plot: Derek Charles (Elba), a happily married corporate exec is stalked by Lisa (Larter) after she starts working as a temp in his office.

The Good: There are lots of exciting, or "Oh no, she didn't!" moments. The movie hardly lets you breathe an instant without Lisa doing something outrageous. To carry us through the thrill-a-minute ride, the three principals (R&B superstar Beyonce plays Derek's wife Sharon) all play their roles as well as written. Oh, and the climactic battle between the ladies is a trashy fun catfight for the ages.

The Bad: It wants to be Fatal Attraction for the new milennium. However, it forgets that what makes FA great is its roots in reality. There was an affair and we watched emotional attachment develop. Sure, it was over the top but given the way the early parts of the movie played out, it seemed possible. Here, there is zero plausibility. Our villain is insanely obsessed from the first moment she lays eyes on Derek. It doesn't help that she seems to occasionally have superhuman ability. Finally, it perpetuates the stereotype of white women preying on successful black men. Yes, there's plenty of evidence of this hanging around NBA & NFL locker rooms after games but that still doesn't make this display any less absurd.

The Ugly: A brotha can't even pee in peace.

Recommendation: Taken only on the surface, it can be a fun thriller, especially if watched with the right crowd. If you dig just a tiny bit, the facade falls away exposing a ridiculous core.

The Opposite View: Alonso Duralde, MSNBC*

What the Internet Says: 4.2/10 on imdb.com (8/22/09), 19% on rottentomatoes.com, 25/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 4/10


* I swear I could use this guy for "The Opposite View" on nearly movie.

[Sharkweather]

Stringer Bell! I knew he looked familiar.

[dell71]

Race to Witch Mountain
2009. Rated PG, 99 minutes.
Director: Andy Fickman.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino.

Plot: A pair of teenage aliens come to Earth, pursued by an assassin their planet, and enlist the aid of cab driver Jack Bruno (Johnson). A "reimagining" of 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain.

The Good: In true Disney fashion, it empowers its kids and takes them on a fun adventure. We get lots of chase scenes, a spotlight on a few special fx, and the company's trademark cute humor. To pull all of this together, we get large doses of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's kiddie flick persona in the main token adult role.

The Bad: It quickly becomes apparent "The Rock" is only in the movie to sell tickets and up rentals. I don't mean that as a knock against him. His performance was fine. However, his character was largel useless. Our young female alien Sara (Robb) has the powers of telekinesis and telepathy. Her brother, Seth (Ludwig) can withstand massive impact and phase through solid objects. Why exactly do they need this cab driver? Aside from that, the whole thing comes off rather cheesy.

The Ugly: The assassin, when his helmet gets yanked off.

Recommendation: This is pretty formulaic Disney family fare, on par with The Gameplan and The Pacifier. Decide accordingly.

The Opposite View: Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

What the Internet Says: 6.0/10 on imdb.com (8/24/09), 43% on rottentomatoes.com, 52/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 6/10

[Buzzman]

took my sister to see RTWM, it was alright, the subplot with him being a mafia driver was dumb and unneeded as well.