Dell's Good, Bad & Ugly Movie Reviews

[Fox1994]

Of course he can. He's Morgan God-Damned! Freeman. He's the hardest working man in showbusiness, and he'll do whatever he damned-well pleases, hear it!

 

[dell71]

I just watched The Last Samurai again last night after some time, have you seen that, Dell? Don't see a review for it.

I've sorta seen it. Whenever its on TV, I either catch the beginning and don't get to finish it or catch the end and I've yet to bother renting it to actually sit through it.

 

[Senser81]

Jill Quigg might be the ugliest woman to ever appear on a screen.


MY SCORE: 9.5/10

:confused2:

 

[dell71]

About Gone Baby Gone

 

Do you think Casey Afflecks decision at the end makes him a hypocrite after he killed the child molester? I mean I was kinda pissed he could pull the trigger, but he cant just let the little girl go with Morgans Freeman.

 

That's tough, which is the beauty of this movie. In his mind, he's stopping someone from doing something wrong/unethical/illegal. His killing the child molester is part of justice as far as he's concerned. So too, is turning in Morgan God-Damned! Freeman. I guess my answer is he's a little bit of a hypocrite but man if it were me, it would've been hard NOT to pull that trigger.

 

[dell71]

:confused2:

confused about "the ugly", the score or both?

EDIT: Sorry.

 

[Buzzman]

 

That's tough, which is the beauty of this movie. In his mind, he's stopping someone from doing something wrong/unethical/illegal. His killing the child molester is part of justice as far as he's concerned. So too, is turning in Morgan God-Damned! Freeman. I guess my answer is he's a little bit of a hypocrite but man if it were me, it would've been hard NOT to pull that trigger.

 

But at the sametime, if it was you, you'd probaly find it easy to let Morgan Freeman take the kid, knowing very well what the mother was like.

 

[Fox1994]

confused about "the ugly", the score or both?

The Ugly:

Dude, that's mean to her and all your followers.

 

But at the same_time, if it was you, you'd probaly find it easy to let Morgan Freeman take the kid, knowing very well what the mother was like.

And of course he should've given the baby to Morgan - Jesus save us - Freeman, but that's not what Morgan - Motherfuckin - Freeman had chosen for this role. He can play a tragic caharacter. Morgan - Jah Rastafari - Freeman can do whatever he damned well pleases.

(Also, I think the dude who did the Mr. T vs Chuck Norris book - he also did the Chuck Norris book - should do a Morgan - can't stop the funk - Freeman book and a Samuel L. - bad motherfucker - Jackson book... Hopefully with some new jokes.)

 

[dell71]

Just saw 500 Days of Summer. I really liked it. Have you seen it Dell?

(500) Days of Summer
Directed by Marc Webb
2009. Rated PG-13, 95 minutes.
Cast:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Zooey Deschanel
Geoffrey Arend
Chloe Moretz
Matthew Gray Gubler
Clark Gregg​

Plot: Hopeless romantic Tom (Gordon-Levitt) falls head over heels for not so romantic Summer (Deschanel).

The Good: In a bit of a role-reversal from most rom-coms, its the guy who believes whole-heartedly in love at first sight, soul mates and other such hocus pocus. He loves hard and wants reciprocity. Summer is his exact opposite and the way they attract is handled wonderfully. The tow of them feel like real people, not the exaggerated stereotypes of slacker masculinity and clingy femininity. It also leaves out another common element in romances, the show-stopping moment of clarity. There is no running through the airport or train station screaming at the top one's lungs or bursting in on a wedding seconds before the "I dos" are said. It just plays like a relationship we really might've had. For this, the movie is less predictable. it also makes us yearn for that moment but fully understand when we don't get it.

The Bad: The recurring bit of Tom's twelve year old (or so) sister Rachel (Moretz) acting as his psychiatrist got old, quick. Her "wise-beyond-her-years" schtick was cute, at first, but became annoying. It also kept pulling me out of a movie that otherwise did a tremendous job getting me immersed. The other problem is it reminded me too much of two other movies. The way it zips back and forth through time (which works well, by the way) and Summer's near unwillingness to love conjures memories of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (some will chuckle at that line). The personality and idiosyncracies of our hero and the way it plays out is similar to Woody Allen's classic Annie Hall.

The Ugly: Just how much money did furniture giant Ikea cough up for this movie?

Recommendation: Like I said, its basically an update of Annie Hall. That said, its an effective update. Its excellently directed and written with really good performances from our leads. It's the latest in what's become a long line of "chick flicks for guys" but its one the ladies will appreciate more than most of the others as it...gasp...favors emotions over raunch. Steer clear if you're looking for something similar to what comes out of the Apatow camp, like Forgetting Sarah Marshall. This leaves out movie wackiness for more subtle, real life crazy.

The Opposite View: Nathan Lee, NPR

What the Internet Says: 8.1/10 on imdb.com (#225 all time as of 1/13/10), 87% on rottentomatoes.com, 76/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 8.5/10​

 

[dell71]

 

But at the sametime, if it was you, you'd probaly find it easy to let Morgan Freeman take the kid, knowing very well what the mother was like.

 

That's what makes it such a hard decision. Would I really give myself the right to effectively take a child away from its natural mother? After all, its not like MF went and legally adopted the kid. I'm not sure there's a right answer.

Dude, that's mean to her and all your followers.

You are absolutely right. I hereby formally apologize to Miss Quigg, should she somehow find herself reading this and to anyone else who enjoys reading my reviews. It seems my pursuit of an e-joke went too far. No sarcasm.

 

And of course he should've given the baby to Morgan - Jesus save us - Freeman, but that's not what Morgan - Motherfuckin - Freeman had chosen for this role. He can play a tragic caharacter. Morgan - Jah Rastafari - Freeman can do whatever he damned well pleases.

True.

(Also, I think the dude who did the Mr. T vs Chuck Norris book - he also did the Chuck Norris book - should do a Morgan - can't stop the funk - Freeman book and a Samuel L. - bad motherfucker - Jackson book... Hopefully with some new jokes.)

Ummm...okay.

 

[dell71]

Dell's Classics Presents...

The Battle of Algiers
AKA La battaglia di Algeri
Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
1966. Not Rated, 121 minutes.
Cast:
Brahim Hadjadj
Jean Martin
Yacef Saadi
Ugo Paletti
Fusia El Kader
Mohamed Ben Kassen​

Native Algierians try to drive French colonialists out of their country. Based on occurences during the Algierian revolution. It's a rather matter-of-fact retelling of events that take place over a decade or so. When watching it for the first time, it feels choppy. There's a conversation or two, then something happens and before it seems to reach a conclusion or what we would think of as a logical transition point, it suddenly skips ahead several months or years in some cases. However, by the end its achieved an odd but meticulous and unbelievably effective continuity. It's also incredibly even-handed as we're not sure who we're supposed to be rooting for. Are the so-called revolutionaries, actively engaging in terrorism our heroes? What about the French colonialists attempting to co-opt a foreign land into their empire, denying a nation of people their independence? There are no easy answers. When the climax comes, we expect for the movie to show its hand, to let us know which side it's on. We think we know, but the outcome is presented more as a victory for one of the two evils, and not necessarily the lesser or greater one. This is an exhausting, powerful and brilliant piece of film that, given the events of the last decade, has gained new relevance. Subtitleophobes beware, we're speaking multiple languages and no English.

MY SCORE: 10/10​

 

[Fox1994]

^Cool. A purely objective war movie. I need to check that.

 

[Epidemik]

RE: Con Air

Over the top, ultra-macho (read: homoerotic), highly watchable and enjoyable trash. Think most Sly Stallone or Schwarzenegger movies. If its not clear, I remember liking it when I watched it however many years ago but wouldn't call it a great film.

I think it was a potentially great film given the genre. I do respect your opinion of the movie but I would highly encourage a re-watch. This film is one of the few movies that I felt I needed to actually buy on DVD because it is one of the few movies that I truly enjoy and love to watch. I do also believe it had one of the BEST (and most Beautiful) original scores of the decade in How Can I Live Without You Written by Diane Warren Performed by Trisha Yearwood (made famous by Leaane Rimes & Faith Hill, however the song was made FOR Con-Air) taken independently. Had the song been done for some "awe-inspiring" drama or some "deep" love movie it would have been awarded score of the year / best original soundtrack, however, I do understand that that it is not he quality of the song alone that goes into winning the award. The first 6/7 of the movie is well acted and well directed however does suffer from over the top action (but hey it was the 90's, thats what we do). John Malkovich was simply brilliant in his portrayal of Cyrus the Virus as well as Steve Buscemi in his role as Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene, who i would argue basically steals the movie in a good way. The scene where he is with the little girl is a must watch. The comedic relief throughout the movie is also very intelligent as it comes across and many tiny things that a majority of movie goers may not pick up on. I would venture to say it was one of the better action movies of the 90's. However, I do see the draw back especially in the ending where it is extremely over the top and I find myself asking how in the hell did Cyrus end up precisely on that conveyor belt? That portion of the movie I believe almost undoes the rest of the movie, however I still love it. The Very end of the movie is very touching as well. But then again maybe I'm just a homer for this movie and felt like making my own mini-review

Dell is king of the studio :shakehands:

"Put.. the Bunny.. Back.. In the Box.."​

 

[dell71]

RE: Con Air



I think it was a potentially great film given the genre. I do respect your opinion of the movie but I would highly encourage a re-watch. This film is one of the few movies that I felt I needed to actually buy on DVD because it is one of the few movies that I truly enjoy and love to watch. I do also believe it had one of the BEST (and most Beautiful) original scores of the decade in How Can I Live Without You Written by Diane Warren Performed by Trisha Yearwood (made famous by Leaane Rimes & Faith Hill, however the song was made FOR Con-Air) taken independently. Had the song been done for some "awe-inspiring" drama or some "deep" love movie it would have been awarded score of the year / best original soundtrack, however, I do understand that that it is not he quality of the song alone that goes into winning the award. The first 6/7 of the movie is well acted and well directed however does suffer from over the top action (but hey it was the 90's, thats what we do). John Malkovich was simply brilliant in his portrayal of Cyrus the Virus as well as Steve Buscemi in his role as Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene, who i would argue basically steals the movie in a good way. The scene where he is with the little girl is a must watch. The comedic relief throughout the movie is also very intelligent as it comes across and many tiny things that a majority of movie goers may not pick up on. I would venture to say it was one of the better action movies of the 90's. However, I do see the draw back especially in the ending where it is extremely over the top and I find myself asking how in the hell did Cyrus end up precisely on that conveyor belt? That portion of the movie I believe almost undoes the rest of the movie, however I still love it. The Very end of the movie is very touching as well. But then again maybe I'm just a homer for this movie and felt like making my own mini-review

Dell is king of the studio :shakehands:

"Put.. the Bunny.. Back.. In the Box.."​

Damn, you really do :heart: that movie. Great post.

 

[Maynard]

awww your killing me with that 8.5 for 500 days of summer. you were my last hope to validate my thoughts that this flick was terrible. It seems i am the only one who feels that way....DAM IT

ok, not terrible....but totally forgettable

 

[matsb84]

awww your killing me with that 8.5 for 500 days of summer. you were my last hope to validate my thoughts that this flick was terrible. It seems i am the only one who feels that way....DAM IT

ok, not terrible....but totally forgettable

GF dragged me to this. I told her after wards I felt it was 90min too long.

 

[dell71]

awww your killing me with that 8.5 for 500 days of summer. you were my last hope to validate my thoughts that this flick was terrible. It seems i am the only one who feels that way....DAM IT

ok, not terrible....but totally forgettable

GF dragged me to this. I told her after wards I felt it was 90min too long.

ummmm...sorry?

 

[dope]

i wanted to check out 500 days of summer cause i've got a huge crush on zooey and even a little man crush on joseph....but my gf refusing to watch it....i don't know if i should be sad cause i can't watch it, or happy cause my gf can't stand rom-com's.

 

[Buzzman]

well, we know wwho wears the pants in dopes relationship.

 

[dell71]

i wanted to check out 500 days of summer cause i've got a huge crush on zooey and even a little man crush on joseph....but my gf refusing to watch it....i don't know if i should be sad cause i can't watch it, or happy cause my gf can't stand rom-com's.

Both. It is a rom-com, but an atypical one. That said most of them are the same recyclable crap, imho.

 

[dope]

well, we know wwho wears the pants in dopes relationship.

well i'll take not being able to watch that movie to my gf enjoying movies like fight club/mulholland drive/big lebowski/boogie nights