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More reviews
Sep. 15th, 2005 09:11 amI just realized how far I had fallen behind on this . . .
So, recent movies seen on DVD:
Constantine, good special effects, competent plot (with several problems) and an almost entirely miscast cast. Keanu Reeves was fine, even good, as long as he did not speak or attempt to emote. Everyone else in the cast was equally off, except for Tilda Swinton as Gabriel, which was the only inspired casting in the entire movie. Ultimately, it failed to be dark or edgy enough to approach the source material, but still better then I expected. My Grade: C
Battle Royale, another wacky movie out of Japan. In the near future of Japan, in an effort to control the increasingly rebellious teenagers, it is decided that a random class of 9th graders (final year of high school in Japan, I am assuming) will be set loose on a deserted island and only one can leave alive . . . Makes perfect sense as a way to impose order, right? Well, apart from that, it is a really good study of what these teenagers do when forced into this situation. Quite raw at times, it is a very interesting movie and extremely popular in Japan. Well worth watching, especially if you like strange Japanese thriller-social commentary movies. My Grade: B-
Timeline, based on the book by Michael Crichton (which I can only hope is better). Weak plot riddled with holes, average acting but acceptable costumes and battle scenes (though ahistoric). Really, not much to recommend it at all. My Grade: D
The Man who Cried, a very interesting movie written and directed by Sally Potter. It it entirely limited view point, you never see more of what is going on then the main character can see, very interesting choice. But if you do not know your 20th century European history from the mid-20s to the early 40s, you are going to get lost because none of what is happening in the background is explained. Johnny Depp shows up as a gypsy, the main reason we watched it is because it is one of Depp's movies, and does a good job as always. Interesting but a bit slow and not an overly cheerful movie. My Grade: C+
So, recent movies seen on DVD:
Constantine, good special effects, competent plot (with several problems) and an almost entirely miscast cast. Keanu Reeves was fine, even good, as long as he did not speak or attempt to emote. Everyone else in the cast was equally off, except for Tilda Swinton as Gabriel, which was the only inspired casting in the entire movie. Ultimately, it failed to be dark or edgy enough to approach the source material, but still better then I expected. My Grade: C
Battle Royale, another wacky movie out of Japan. In the near future of Japan, in an effort to control the increasingly rebellious teenagers, it is decided that a random class of 9th graders (final year of high school in Japan, I am assuming) will be set loose on a deserted island and only one can leave alive . . . Makes perfect sense as a way to impose order, right? Well, apart from that, it is a really good study of what these teenagers do when forced into this situation. Quite raw at times, it is a very interesting movie and extremely popular in Japan. Well worth watching, especially if you like strange Japanese thriller-social commentary movies. My Grade: B-
Timeline, based on the book by Michael Crichton (which I can only hope is better). Weak plot riddled with holes, average acting but acceptable costumes and battle scenes (though ahistoric). Really, not much to recommend it at all. My Grade: D
The Man who Cried, a very interesting movie written and directed by Sally Potter. It it entirely limited view point, you never see more of what is going on then the main character can see, very interesting choice. But if you do not know your 20th century European history from the mid-20s to the early 40s, you are going to get lost because none of what is happening in the background is explained. Johnny Depp shows up as a gypsy, the main reason we watched it is because it is one of Depp's movies, and does a good job as always. Interesting but a bit slow and not an overly cheerful movie. My Grade: C+