6 December 2004, late at night
Hackers features a killer soundtrack and the super-sexy Angelina Jolie. The whole cast is actually pretty bizarre; a dude from Trainspotting, Marc Anthony, the psychiatrist from the Sapranos and Shaggy from the Scooby Doo movies all star in the film. The film brings up all sorts of some what obscure old-school tech-trivia at times, and is in some ways quite accurate in its depiction of computers. In the movie we get to see social hacking, dumpster diving, denial of service attacks and phreaking. However, the movie is campy. So campy. Most of the time the movie is as far from real as it can get. At times it is just too ridiculous. The movie is all right. I’ve seen worse.
Reviews of Hackers at Rotten Tomatoes
[2] Movies
5 December 2004, lunch time
I saw the trailer for Good Bye Lenin! a long time ago, and thought it looked like it would be quite the comedy. The movie is funny—once in a while. For the most part however, Good Bye Lenin! is a bit of a downer, a drama about nostalgia I suppose. The film is about a boy whose mother wake up from a coma after sleeping through the fall of the berlin wall. The boy is told his mother can’t take any stress, so decides to hide this information from his mother—sometimes with hilarious results. the movie was quite good, well worth checking out.
The official Good Bye Lenin web site.
[2] Movies
30 November 2004, lunch time
So I ended my movie watching drought with the film White Chicks. Thanks-a-fucking-lot Steph. The film is bizarre, and I suppose in some ways might be worth watching in that respect; it definitely isn’t good. The film is about two black FBI agents who have to go undercover as white chicks to foil a kidnapping scheme—seriously. I really can’t recommend the film on its merits, only on the fact that it features two black dudes dressed up like freakish looking white women.
The official White Chicks site
[1] Movies
9 November 2004, the wee hours
Thailand is the new Hong Kong. I watched Ong-Bak over the weekend with Mezan, Steph and Carvill plus a bunch of Krishna’s friends. The movie is insane. The plot is simple, a small town village boy travels to the big city to get back the head of a Buddha statue that was stolen from his town. The movie has some excellent action sequences, and you would be at a loss not to check it out. I think the film features almost no special effects, and more then that I think the fights are all done with out wires. It is crazy.
The official Ong-Bak web site.
update: I watched the film again last night with Rishi. The film was as intense the second time as it was the first. I know I basically tell you, the readers of this site, to watch and read everything I read, but this movie is seriously worth watching.
[2] Movies
7 November 2004, the wee hours
I watched the Star Wars III trailer last night. Now, I’m not one to hype up a movie, but I think it’s safe to say that Star Wars III is going to be the greatest movie ever made of all time—well, assuming it is much better than Lucas’ last to attempts at Star Wars movies. I enjoed Star Wars II, but I mean, it’s still a bad movie. I want Star Wars III to be good. I want it to be good so bad.
It feeels like I haven’t watched a film in ages.
[11] Movies
16 October 2004, mid-afternoon
Mandy Moore was actually quite entertaining to watch as the Christian nut job in Saved. The film is about a few kids at a Christian high school down in the states. I don’t want to say anymore about the plot because it’s pretty ridiculous. The movie has a pretty good cast of teenage actors who all played their respective parts quite well. I thought the film was quite funny, though at times sappy; can’t fault them for that. Watching the special features you can see they wanted to make the film slightly racier then they were allowed. The movie points out the flaws and hypocrisy of evangelical christianity (and I suppose any religion for that matter), and does so in a cute way. The film is definitely work checking out.
The official Saved web site
[2] Movies
3 October 2004, terribly early in the morning
Elephant is a strange movie. The film is about school shootings. I can’t say I didn’t like the movie, I just can’t say I did like it either. The movie is incredibly slow, though I don’t think this is what I didn’t enjoy about the film. I think the slow start to the film is important, and works well. The final third of the movie is much more dramatic and compelling because of the relative calm of the first two thirds of the film. My major complaint with Elephant is that there are way too many long and drawn out shots of the backs of people’s heads as they are walking around. Also, the ending seemed abrupt. The way the story is pieced together is interesting, but not enough to redeem what I think are flaws in the movie.
The official Elephant web site
[3] Movies
1 October 2004, early evening
I finally saw Tina Fey’s Mean Girls. The movie is probably one of the better teen-comedies I have seen in many, many, years. The movie is about how teenage girls are all basically beeyotches to one another; in a nutshell anyway. The movie is quite funny. Each of the characters in the film plays their part quite well. The film features plenty of stereotypes to laugh at. I have been told by some of my friends that the brown Mathelete in the movie reminds them of me. To those friends I say, “Hardly!”
The official Mean Girls homepage
[3] Movies
19 September 2004, terribly early in the morning
Just got back from watching Big Fish. The film is about a man that talks a lot of shit. (It’s like they made it just for me.) The film was excellent. I think perhaps I say that too often, but this truly was a great film. Shima, Ju-lian and Steph all agree with me, I am quite sure. Go and watch this movie.
Update: I watched this film again today with Carvill, Rishi, and Steph. The movie is both touching and funny, a hard thing to pull off I would say. This movie is such a pleasure to watch. The various sequences and stories are so fantastic to see. Burton did a great job shooting this film.
The official Big Fish web site
[1] Movies
17 September 2004, the wee hours
I watched Sabrina, Audrey Hepburn’s second film, yesterday with Shima. The film is directed by the brilliant Billy Wilder, of Some Like It Hot fame. The movie is funny and charming. I’m a big fan of Hepburn, and I think she is great in this film. It may have been the first film I ever saw her in. The movies plot is basically a simple love triangle. William Holden and Humphrey Bogart do great jobs playing the two millionaire brothers viewing for Sabrina’s affection. I think it is sometimes refreshing to watch a film as old as this one. I recomend you check it out.
Read reviews of Sabrina at Rotten Tomatoes
[6] Movies
15 September 2004, mid-afternoon
You might have thought I had slowed down with my movie watching, but think again. I watched The Ladykillers with Gary last night. I thought the film was hilarious. The movie is about a group of robbers who are trying to rob a casino. They are tunnelling from the home of a very religious, strong-minded, black women whom the leader of the group has rented a room from. The dialogue in the film is great because each of the five lead character in the movie sounds, acts, and talks totally different than the rest of the characters. The film is strange to say the least. I think the film is well worth watching.
The official The Ladykillers web site
[1] Movies
15 September 2004, mid-afternoon
I watched Bombay again with Shima yesterday. I am a big fan of Mani Ratnam, and I think this is one of his better films. The movie is about a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy’s marriage, and the negative reaction to their love from their respective communities and family. The backdrop to the whole film is the communal rioting that took place when Hindu nationalists tore down the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. The film takes a good look at the effects of the rioting in India, but makes no attempt to suggest a way to solve India’s problems (beyond the simple common sense of treat each other with respect). The movie has a great score, and great music by A.R. Rahman. If you haven’t seen too many Bollywood movies, this is definitely one to watch. I think at times the movie feels a bit too preachy or cliché. I think Kamalhasan’s Hey! Ram is actually the best movie out there on the subject of communal violence in India.
[2] Movies
15 September 2004, mid-afternoon
I finally can say I have seen The Karate Kid. I’ve wanted to see the movie for years now, and this weekend I finally watched it—on tape no less. I’m sure everybody knows this is a film about a kid who is taught Karate by a crazy old Japanese man, and in learning Karate learns that violence isn’t always the best way to solve problems. Well I think that was the message that was trying to be taught. I thought the film was entertaining in a thoroughly bizarre sort of way. If you haven’t seen it you really should just so you can say you have.
Read reivews of The Karate Kid at Rotten Tomatoes
[2] Movies
7 September 2004, late evening
Hero is an absolutely gorgeous film. Each scene in Hero looks absolutely exquisite. The colours, the framing, everything. It’s basically perfect. The story is simple, and told in a Roshomon type fashion. A hero is given an audience with a tyrant king in order to narrate to the king how he managed to slay 3 deadly assassins who were bent on killing the king. The fight sequences are great. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung can do no wrong. They seem to play couples in so many movies they do together. Jet Li is excellent in the film as well. It is sad to see how bad the roles he gets in North America are when you see his Asian films. Go watch this movie.
Read reviews of Hero at Rotten Tomatoes
[5] Movies
7 September 2004, late evening
Johnie To has to be one of the best directors to come out of Hong Kong. His action films are top-notch. If you haven’t seen anything by him, you should definitely check out The Mission, Expect the Unexpected and Comeuppance. I watched Full Time Killer with Mezan yesterday afternoon. The film is about two rival professional killers, played by Andy Lau and Takashi Sorimachi. I thought the film was good, but not really exceptional. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the film, but I don’t think the film is as good as some of To’s other work. If you are stuck for something to rent at block buster, it may be worth checking out. His other films might be harder to track down.
The Full Time Killer official web site
[7] Movies
3 September 2004, mid-afternoon
I watched Magnolia again with Shima, who had never seen the movie before. I’m a big fan of the film, and of its writer/director P. T. Anderson. The movie is a look at the lives of a large group of people, and how they are all in some ways linked with one and other. The acting in the film is superb. The film has a stellar cast, including Julian Moore (who I love), Tom Cruise, and William H. Macy. Anderson has a real eye for cinema. The film is a real pleasure to watch. The movie clocks in at somewhere close to 3 hours long. I personally don’t think it feels long at all, but that might just be me. There is some great dialogue, and some great shots, all of which make for a film you have to see.
The official Magnolia web site
[8] Movies
25 August 2004, the wee hours
I enjoyed The Village. Shayamalan is very much a modern day Hitchcock. The scenes where he wanted to thrill the audience worked well, judging by the gasps and screams that would echo through the theatre—and by the feeling of Shima crushing my hand. The movie is about a village in a valley surrounded by a forest inhabited by monsters. The monsters for some reason are breaking their truce with the village and attacking. I thought the acting was top notch. I was especially impressed with the heroine, Bryce Dallas Howard. The Village is some ways similar in style to Shayamalan’s previous efforts, especially Signs. I was glad to see Shayamalan move away from his usual pivotal scene that reveals the big twist in the movie. His previous three films all have a scene, usually done with flashbacks, that reveal the extra layer to the film we didn’t see till the end. Shalyman’s managed to make a film similar in style to his old work, but at the same time managed to get away from something that I think would quickly wind up being cliche. I recommend you check the film out, though be warned I think this is a film you will either love or hate.
I watched The Village this afternoon at the Rainbow Cinema at Fairview mall. For those of you not from Toronto, Fairview mall used to have a pretty nice cinema compared to those that existed when I was grade school. By the end of high school all those new super cinemas basically made it look pretty lame. Recently, the cinema got turned in to a Rainbow Cinema, which is apparently some chain that offers up cheap movies. If you are in Toronto, don’t watch movies at Fairview. Children will be in the cinema, and they will not shut up. Trust me on that.
The official The Village web site
[9] Movies
18 August 2004, terribly early in the morning
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle is awesome. There really isn’t much else I need to say. The dude that made Dude, Where’s My Car has managed to redeem himself with this low brow yet intelligent little comedy. The film is about two stoners trying to get to White Castle, a burger joint in the states that sells tiny burgers; Hilarity ensues. Neil Patrick Harris is hilarious in his little cameo. I found it refreshing to see a movie where every single white person in the film was two-dimensional. It was a bizarre change of pace.
The official Harold and Kumar web site
[4] Movies
17 August 2004, late at night
I watched Pieces of April again with Steph last night. I was just as impressed the second time viewing it as I was the first. The film follows Katie Holmes as she struggles to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for her family. Meanwhile her terminally ill mom and family make the trek from their home to Katie’s. The film is quite funny, and at times quite touching. The film is worth watching just to see the Mom, who has to be the most obnoxious, horrible, cancer patient you will ever see.
The official Pieces of April web site
Movies
15 August 2004, terribly early in the morning
Garden State was amazing. I was quite hyped up to see the film after watching the trailers, and am glad to say the film didn’t disappoint in the least. The film looks great. Each shot looks equisite. The director/writer/star Zach Braff has done a great job with this film. The story begins with Braff’s character returning from LA to his home in New Jersey to attend his mother’s funeral; things move forward from there. The story is quite sweet. I would call the film a funny drama, with a tiny bit a romance. I will stop gushing about the movie now. Go watch it.
The official Garden State web site
[3] Movies
12 August 2004, terribly early in the morning
Simon brought over his copy of Amadeus. Amadeus is the story of Mozart as narrated to the audience by the not so spectacular composer Antonio Salieri. The film is really good. The relationship between Salieri and Mozart, though entirely fictional according to Simon, is so much fun to watch. Salieri appreciates Mozart’s talents like no other, but is also incredibly jealous of them. Salieri stops at nothing to make sure Mozart doesn’t succeed, but at the same time is completely conflicted with his actions. The movie looks great. Though shot in 1984 it feels quite modern. The film’s score is beautiful. If I was a bigger fan of classical music I may have appreciated it much more, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. My only complaint with the movie was that Mozart’s wife was really pretty dreadful. She seems so out of place. I found her very American accent grating. I think having Mozart speak with a very American accent worked because it makes him seem so out of place and bizarre; with the wife it just comes off like an accident. The actor who played Salieri on the other hand was brilliant, as was the actor who played Motzart. This movie definitely is worth watching.
The movie is 100% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes
[4] Movies
11 August 2004, terribly early in the morning
I watched Identity today with Krishna and his friends—remind me not to do that again; they like to talk way to much during a film. The movie is a thriller about a group of 10 people at a motel who must figure out what connects them and the murders taking place around them. I think the film gets quite predictable after you discover how the patrons are connected, though I thought their connection was a cool, but ultimately stupid, plot twist. I think the film was interesting, and a refreshing attempt at a different type of thriller. However, I don’t know if the film succeeds or not. I am really not all that pleased with the movie. I really like John Cussak; the film may be worthwhile just to see his performance. If you are in the mood for a thriller this might be a worthwhile movie to see.
The official Identity web site
[1] Movies
6 August 2004, late evening
Denzel Washington does a good job playing a veteran of the Gulf war in The Manchurian Candidate. Actually, all the actors in the film do a great job with their parts. Meryl Streep in particular is quite chilling as an evil senator. The movie is about a veteran who thinks he and his platoon were brainwashed during the gulf war. Complicating matters is the fact that one of the members in his platoon is now a candidate for the vice-presidency. The film is a great little thriller, with lots of twists and turns. I had originally been quite uninterested in seeing this film, but I am glad I did. It’s quite entertaining.
The official The Manchurian Candidate web site.
[11] Movies
3 August 2004, terribly early in the morning
I bought Black Orpheus a few days ago. I finally watched the film today. Black Orpheus is a retelling of the classic Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice, set during the Carnival in Brazil. The film is famous for its music, there are some nice Bossa Nova tracks mixed in with some feet stomping Samba. There are numerous drawn out scenes of the characters dancing that are shot quite well. The movie is a real pleasure to watch. The cinematography of the movie is beautiful. I imagine the film would have been considered quite progressive when it was made. The cast is predominately black, the sexuality in the film isn’t overt, but it isn’t hidden either, and the music was nothing foreign audiences would have heard before. Black Orpheus is definitely worth watching.
[1] Movies
28 July 2004, the wee hours
I watched Signs again today with Ahilan and Steph. I think it is M. Night Shyamalan’s best movie. Signs opens with Mel Gibson finding a huge crop circle in the middle of his corn field. There are apparently others all around the world. Is it a hoax or not? You find out during the course of the movie, though the film is much less a sci-fi film, and much more a film about faith. Mel Gibson’s character has had his faith shaken, and the film examines this. I thought Signs was very well put together. The script, the direction and the acting are all superb. Shyamalan’s camera work is impressive, I think he shoots scenes really well. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix do great jobs in the movie. I would say I enjoyed the movie much more watching it a second time.
Shyamalan strikes me as a modern day Hitchcock. His movies are interesting and creepy in a refreshing way. I’m looking forward to his next film, the Village.
You can read reviews of Signs at Rotten Tomatoes.
[11] Movies
