Dell's Good, Bad & Ugly Movie Reviews

[nflman2033]

glad to see this thread here, i missed the Scarlett Street review when you did it on MM, Edward G Robinson Fritz Lang, damn I have to check that out, its not even on Netflix.

also I need to rewatch Quantum of Solace since many people agree with you about it, i thought it was good.

 

[dell71]

glad to see this thread here, i missed the Scarlett Street review when you did it on MM, Edward G Robinson Fritz Lang, damn I have to check that out, its not even on Netflix.

also I need to rewatch Quantum of Solace since many people agree with you about it, i thought it was good.

Scarlett Street is really an unheralded movie, but I loved it. You might be able to find it online somewhere (I happened to find it on DVD for $2 bucks locally).

I liked QOS, it just had some gaping holes.

 

[nflman2033]

well i only saw QoS at the theater, since i own all the others i will be buying it as soon as the price comes down a bit, hard to buy movies when unemployed.

well if i could find Scarlett Street for 2 bucks i would no doubt pick that up

 

[Senser81]

well i only saw QoS at the theater, since i own all the others i will be buying it as soon as the price comes down a bit, hard to buy movies when unemployed.

well if i could find Scarlett Street for 2 bucks i would no doubt pick that up

What did you like about QoS? I can't think of any redeeming quality.

 

[nflman2033]

What did you like about QoS? I can't think of any redeeming quality.

don't remember since i haven't seen in since the theaters, i guess the fact that its James Bond and I like Daniel Craig way more than Pierce Brosnan. I would say it probably a middle of the pack Bond Flick and better than all of PB's films except GoldenEye.

 

[Senser81]

don't remember since i haven't seen in since the theaters, i guess the fact that its James Bond and I like Daniel Craig way more than Pierce Brosnan. I would say it probably a middle of the pack Bond Flick and better than all of PB's films except GoldenEye.

So, basically what you are saying is "I'm gay". Thanx.

 

[dell71]

Dammit Senser, you confused the shit out of me with the Bond avatar. I thought I was seeing double.

 

[nflman2033]

So, basically what you are saying is "I'm gay". Thanx.

i think you know the answer to that

 

[dell71]

well i only saw QoS at the theater, since i own all the others i will be buying it as soon as the price comes down a bit, hard to buy movies when unemployed.

well if i could find Scarlett Street for 2 bucks i would no doubt pick that up

Save your 2 bucks. To start watching Scarlet Street ASAP (legally), Click here. Not the greatest quality but watchable. The site http://www.classiccinemaonline.com has lots of oldies. All free.

 

[nflman2033]

if the quality isn't good there is just no way, i can barely watch the Netflix movies on my computer

 

[ATL Jones Bro]

You seen obsessed? Looks like a pretty interesting movie.

 

[dell71]

if the quality isn't good there is just no way, i can barely watch the Netflix movies on my computer

My suggestion is take a look at the first minute or so & see whether you can stand it or not.

You seen obsessed? Looks like a pretty interesting movie.

Obsessed was already made.

it's called Fatal Attraction. Obsessed is just the much, much shittier version.

LOL, I also immediately thought of Fatal Attraction (& all of its other clones) the first time I saw the commercial. I bet Rawliin is right but I'm willing to sit through it and give it a fair shake. It probably won't be for months, though.

 

[Buzzman]

I didnt want to see it the minute I saw it had a PG 13 rating.

 

[dell71]

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
2008. Rated R, 101 minutes.
Directed by Kevin Smith. Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes.

Plot: Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) are platonic friends who share an apartment. When their financial situation becomes dire, they decide to make a porno.

The Good: It's not afraid to go over the top and it does so smartly. First, it gives us a believable dynamic between our two main characters. It follows that by surrounding them with effectively zany characters and giving them just enough to do to be funny but still stay out of the way. This allows the relationship between Zack and Miri to develop naturally and create some laughs of their own. Craig Robinson as Delaney really delivers. He's similar to Steve Buscemi in that he doesn't act so much as bring a certain persona to supporting roles. He's done in it a number of movies now and I can't say that he's done it any better than he has here.

The Bad: For a movie that takes all sorts of risks visually, it curiously takes none narratively. This creates a weird dichotomy. The fans of rom-coms who might normally eat up such a story, might also be repulsed by the manner in which the plot is advanced. Meanwhile, people who enjoy the raunchiness on display might not be engaged in the rehashed plot. Finally, our heroes seemed doomed to fail if, for no other reason, making full-blown porn movies with plots and scripts longer than this review went out long ago.

The Ugly: Bubbles' (Traci Lords, yes THAT Traci Lords) special talent. By the way, if that makes you laugh then after the movie, go to the deleted scenes and watch "Bubbles' Second Bubble." It's even better.

Recommendation: Kevin Smith fans and fans of the Apatow group should see this since it seems to be right up their alley. Prudes beware: as the title and people involved suggests, cursing, nakedness and graphically simulated sex (for an R-rated feature) are pervasive. For my money, it's the most underrated comedy of 2008. However, I can see why.

The Opposite View: Tom Huddlestone, Time Out London

What the Internet Says: 7.3/10 on imdb.com (4/27/09), 65% on rottentomatoes.com, 56/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 7/10

 

[Buzzman]

I thought Juston long stole that movie away.

SHUT YOOUR MOUTH OR IM GOING TO FUCK IT!!!!!!!!!

 

[dave]

Great review. Loved this movie as well. Prob gonna pick it up this weekend. Glad to see your finally getting to the good stuff on DVD. Seems like a lot of 08's best movies have finally started come out the past few weeks.

You should wait until they release the next version. This DVD version of The Wrestler sucks. Only the movie and a music video.
I'm sure they'll release a super-duper 2.0 version of the movie with many extras in six months.

 

[dell71]

Bedtime Stories
2008. Rated PG, 99 minutes.
Director: Adam Shankman. Starring Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Courtney Cox.

Plot: Hotel maintenance man Skeeter (Sandler) babysits his sister's kids for a few days while she's out of town. With their help, he comes up with elaborate bedtime stories which amazingly become reality.

The Good: It's so gosh-darn cute. The kids are cute. The stories are cute. The way they translate into reality is cute. Therefore, our viewing is sprinkled with chuckles and giggles. All of this helps to keep things moving along nicely as the movie bounds from one tale to the next.

The Bad: It's so gosh-darn cute. Since it is, it's not afraid to pile on the cheese. So, in between the giggles and chuckles you might be rolling your eyes a lot. It doesn't help that the plot is a paint-by-numbers job.

The Ugly: The Booger Monster.

Recommendation: This is solid family fare. The stories are inventive, so they hold your attention as the movie bounces merrily along. There's really not much here to offend even the hardcore prudes, but it is predictable. You're willing to forgive all that because, well, it's just so gosh-darn cute.

The Opposite View: Jim Hill, Channel 4 Film

What the Internet Says: 6.2/10 on imdb.com (4/29/09), 22% on rottentomatoes.com, 33/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 6.5/10

 

[dell71]

Eagle Eye
2008. Rated PG-13, 118 minutes.
Director: D.J. Caruso. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson.

Plot: Two strangers suddenly find themselves working together while on the run from the FBI and being guided by a mysterious woman who's not only one step ahead of the action but somehow able to track their every move.

The Good: Like any chase movie worth it's car crashes, it has some spectacular sequences. There's all sorts of property damage with debris flying everywhere. It's loud and intense. To keep that tension up there's the mysterious voice on all those ominous phone calls. She intrigues us and keeps us guessing as to who she is and what she wants our heroes to do. As usual, LaBeouf ably portrays a guy who's a bit of a jerk but finds himself in an unbelievable situation. The rest of the cast, though more talented is solid but not overwhelming. Still, it's amusing to watch Billy Bob Thornton and Rosario Dawson try to out-stern one another.

The Bad: Once we find out what's going on, the whole thing falls apart. Essentially, it repeats the mistakes of Stealth, I, Robot and other similarly themed movies. An hour plus of mindless, but still fun action gives way to another 45 minutes of paranoid silliness we've seen before without injecting anything new or interesting. It clunks to it's conclusion hoping the noise and vision of the special fx will be enough to win you over. They don't because the script invites you to dig a little deeper but when you do you don't find anything. Contrast this with LaBeouf's prior big-budget special fx monster Transformers. That movie is also loud and silly. However, it works because it never pretends to be anything more whereas EE does and gets caught in its own hoax.

The Ugly: Crystal explosives. Nice.

Recommendation: If you just want to see an almost endless string of chase scenes with lots of crashes and explosions then have at it. Just don't go looking for anything more because even though it tempts us with the possibility of depth, it remains a shallow pool.

The Opposite View: William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

What the Internet Says: 6.7/10 on imdb.com (4/30/09), 27% on rottentomatoes.com, 43/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 5/10

 

[dell71]

Seven Pounds
2008. Rated PG-13, 118 minutes.
Director: Gabriele Muccino. Starring Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper, Woody Harrelson.

Plot: An obviously troubled man (Smith) is on a self-imposed mission to help others and unexpectedly falls in love.

The Good: It effectively strings us along. We're never quite sure exactly what our hero is up to until very late in the proceedings and the movie likes it like that way. Will Smith is solid but Rosario Dawson is outstanding. She very much makes us believe she's a woman who has missed out on things most of us take for granted and increasingly anxious about the time, or lack of time she has left.

The Bad: It's a little too cryptic. Why our hero is troubled is hinted at throughout so it was anticlimactic instead of being the huge revelation it wants to be. Showing this earlier may have helped his pain resonate with the audience more. The movie also takes itself way too seriously. Moments that could've been humorous and lightened the mood are enveloped by our hero's grim greater purpose, a destination he not only trudges toward but drags others with him.

The Ugly: Why he keeps the jellyfish.

Recommendation: The big problem seems to be how shamelessly it campaigned for the Oscars when it was being released. The commercials told us how it was being touted by some critics as a Best Picture candidate with a mind-blowing twist. Since it's not quite that, it became the chic movie to hate. I don't think it's nearly as bad as everyone says. In fact, I thought it was pretty good, even if it was overly self-important.

The Opposite View: Rawlin, VSN

What the Internet Says: 7.6/10 on imdb.com, 28% on rottentomatoes.com, 36/100 on metacritic.com

MY SCORE: 7/10

 

[dell71]

Lady Cocoa
1975. Rated R, 99 minutes.
Director: Matt Cimber. Starring Lola Falana, Gene Washington, Alex Dreier, "Mean" Joe Greene.
Cocoa (Falana) is being let out of jail so she can testify against her gangster boyfriend tomorrow. Two officers, Doug (Washington) and Ramsey (Dreier) are assigned to protect her through the night. The premise is reasonable, actually sort of tame for a Blaxploitation flick. I say that fully realizing that it would make a million times more sense just to take her from jail to the courthouse the morning of, ala 16 Blocks. However, I was hoping for a "so bad it's awesome" experience. What gave me that hope was that they didn't check her into any old out of the way hotel. Nope, they checked her into a hotel/casino/mall/restaurant and she came loudly barrelling through the main entrance practically announcing her arrival to any potential assassins. But alas, it was not to be. The writers telegraph a romance right away and promptly falls into an endless cycle: she asks, he says something along the lines of "No, it's too dangerous," she rants, raves and threatens not to testify, he gives in, she makes googly eyes at him. It might've been interesting but unfortunately legendary singer Lola Falana proves to be a terrible actress delivering repetitive and grating dialogue. However, for any 1975 audience it was probably a shock to hear the classy songstress speak with a potty mouth and do a nude scene. Honestly though, her best acting came during that scene which was a surprisingly enthusiastic love scene late in the movie. It's not until after said scene that we finally get the real deal outrageous antics the genre is known for. By then, it's too late to save the movie. Oh well, at least Pittsburgh Steelers legend "Mean" Joe Greene, who plays a hitman, shows up to glare at the camera every so often. MY SCORE: 3.5