I've been a very naughty boy. So many movies have I watched, but
not reviewed. In penance, here is another helping of mini-reviews.
not reviewed. In penance, here is another helping of mini-reviews.
Showing posts with label Mini-Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mini-Reviews. Show all posts
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The Undefined Gamer's New Home
As you may have noticed, Cinema Won has worked alongside fellow blog The Undefined Gamer since both of the blogs have been around. Well, there is a bit of sad news today. As you may have noticed, posts over at The Undefined Gamer have slowed to a stop recently. For many reasons, The Undefined Gamer is officially shutting down this week. Now,the site will be left up, so all of the old posts will remain viewable. As for all new posts however, The Undefined Gamer isn't leaving you hanging. From now on, you can find brand new post from him here on Cinema Won! Starting with this collection of mini-reviews...
Spoiler Warning!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Mini-Reviews From the Archives
Okay, so I know I haven't been very good about posting lately, but we've been redoing our house so our computer has been boxed away for a while. I've been making due on library computers, like this. Now, next week I will hopefully have my computer back and will hopefully start posting again. However, school is also starting soon and that might put a dent in what I can post when.
And since I don't have much time to do anything today, I figured I would feature with you so reviews I posted on my Facebook page that haven't been on this blog yet, starting with...
All Girls Are Evil: Odd Girl Out Review:
WOW! I mean WOW! This is bad. REALLY BAD. This film made me physicaly ill. Now, don't get me wrong. I truely appreciate the message this film is saying. But, from a filmmaking standpoint, it's just terrible. The main character tries to be a female role model, but instead comes off as a bloody idiot. After she attempts to kill herself over her former best friend bullying her, SHE DECIDES TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH HER AGAIN. The film is very poorly edited, dropping and introducing stories at the drop of a hat. Part way through the movie, the main character's mother finds mean messages from the bullies. The bullies are brought in to see the principle where she gives the bullies a decison: either fess up to the messages and get a weeks suspension (So a girl tries to kill herself because of them and all the get is susspended?) or get expelled. What happens? I don't know. The bullies are at graduation with no explanation of what optition the chose. The film is so heavy-handed and so mean-spirited it's unpleasant to sit through. Also many people told be that the almost pitch-black lighting of the school is to show the dark atmosphere, but honestly it just looks like the budget was so low the couldn't pay for lighting. Overall, Odd Girl Out is heavy-handed, mean-spirited, poorly edited and unpleasant. Even a good message can't save this flop. 1.5 Out of 6.
Runaway Train of Boredom: Unstoppable Review:
I know I may be going against the grain on this one, but I for one found Unstoppable to be a cliched, boring film. Unstoppable never seems to get going. I was waiting for the action to ramp up but it never did. There is no tension in this film, because the cliched script is so predictable. The film has so many false endings that it gets to be annoying after the tenth time. The only thing that saves Unstoppable from being a total failure is the fine performances of the cast. Overall, Unstoppable just never starts. 3.5 out of 6.
This Is One Wierd Episode of Glee: I Am Number Four Review:
I Am Number Four is an entertaining, yet flawed, movie. It stars Alex Pettyfer as Number Four, AKA John Smith as he tries to take down the evil Mogadorians. Overall the plot is nothing special, but competent enough to keep the film together and make you intested in the characters. However, like any other generic action movie, an modest moviegoer can guess what going to happen before it does. Pettyfer sometimes can't handle the lead role by not given the more emotional part enough emotion, but he is a competent lead. Dianna Agron play Sarah, Pettyfer's love interset. She holds her own, however she fail to make the character memorable. (Although that might be the writer's fault.) Teresa Palmer play fellow alien Number Six and does alot better with her role than Agron. Kevin Durand play the film's villain, Commander. He does fine, though sometimes he gets hilariously over the top. But, by far the best actor is Timothy Olyphant as John's mentor and protecter Henri. He's the most entertaining and intesting character thank in no small part to Olyphant performance. However the best part of I Am Number Four is definately the action. While at times it can be tough to see, it is extremely entertaining. The end is easily the best part thanks to this, though it not without it's share of problems. (Like a villain being defeated because he slips in a puddle.) The worst part is that the film , much like the new Harry Potter movie, sets up a sequel that sounds way more interseting than the film we just watched. So, overall, I Am Number Four is an entertaininh movie, but scattered performances, dull moments, weak plotting and stupid moments wiegh down water could have been a fantastic film. 4.5 out of 6.
Spitting Bullets and Drinking Cactus Juice: Rango Review:
Rango follows a story that we've all heard at one point or another. Hero lies about who he is to become popular. Hero gets a big head. Hero is found out to be a fraud and leaves. Hero then returns to save the day after a moment of reflection. And yet, Rango is a highly enjoyable movie elevated by a great script and a great cast. Johnny Depp is very good as the immensely likeable Rango. Isla Fisher is good as Rango love interest, Bean. And everyone else is usually entertaining. The humor and story could have been dumbed down for kids but it's not. In fact, if anything, Rango is not a movie for kids. People die at the drop of a hat and the language may be too much for 7 or 8 year olds. Another good thing worth noting is a wonderful cameo moment that ranks up there with Zombieland's awesome cameo. Overall, Rango may not be for kids, but for everyone else, it's one fun and exciting ride, however on is left with a sour taste in their mouth after watching this film. 3 out of 6.
And since I don't have much time to do anything today, I figured I would feature with you so reviews I posted on my Facebook page that haven't been on this blog yet, starting with...
All Girls Are Evil: Odd Girl Out Review:
WOW! I mean WOW! This is bad. REALLY BAD. This film made me physicaly ill. Now, don't get me wrong. I truely appreciate the message this film is saying. But, from a filmmaking standpoint, it's just terrible. The main character tries to be a female role model, but instead comes off as a bloody idiot. After she attempts to kill herself over her former best friend bullying her, SHE DECIDES TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH HER AGAIN. The film is very poorly edited, dropping and introducing stories at the drop of a hat. Part way through the movie, the main character's mother finds mean messages from the bullies. The bullies are brought in to see the principle where she gives the bullies a decison: either fess up to the messages and get a weeks suspension (So a girl tries to kill herself because of them and all the get is susspended?) or get expelled. What happens? I don't know. The bullies are at graduation with no explanation of what optition the chose. The film is so heavy-handed and so mean-spirited it's unpleasant to sit through. Also many people told be that the almost pitch-black lighting of the school is to show the dark atmosphere, but honestly it just looks like the budget was so low the couldn't pay for lighting. Overall, Odd Girl Out is heavy-handed, mean-spirited, poorly edited and unpleasant. Even a good message can't save this flop. 1.5 Out of 6.
Runaway Train of Boredom: Unstoppable Review:
I know I may be going against the grain on this one, but I for one found Unstoppable to be a cliched, boring film. Unstoppable never seems to get going. I was waiting for the action to ramp up but it never did. There is no tension in this film, because the cliched script is so predictable. The film has so many false endings that it gets to be annoying after the tenth time. The only thing that saves Unstoppable from being a total failure is the fine performances of the cast. Overall, Unstoppable just never starts. 3.5 out of 6.
This Is One Wierd Episode of Glee: I Am Number Four Review:
I Am Number Four is an entertaining, yet flawed, movie. It stars Alex Pettyfer as Number Four, AKA John Smith as he tries to take down the evil Mogadorians. Overall the plot is nothing special, but competent enough to keep the film together and make you intested in the characters. However, like any other generic action movie, an modest moviegoer can guess what going to happen before it does. Pettyfer sometimes can't handle the lead role by not given the more emotional part enough emotion, but he is a competent lead. Dianna Agron play Sarah, Pettyfer's love interset. She holds her own, however she fail to make the character memorable. (Although that might be the writer's fault.) Teresa Palmer play fellow alien Number Six and does alot better with her role than Agron. Kevin Durand play the film's villain, Commander. He does fine, though sometimes he gets hilariously over the top. But, by far the best actor is Timothy Olyphant as John's mentor and protecter Henri. He's the most entertaining and intesting character thank in no small part to Olyphant performance. However the best part of I Am Number Four is definately the action. While at times it can be tough to see, it is extremely entertaining. The end is easily the best part thanks to this, though it not without it's share of problems. (Like a villain being defeated because he slips in a puddle.) The worst part is that the film , much like the new Harry Potter movie, sets up a sequel that sounds way more interseting than the film we just watched. So, overall, I Am Number Four is an entertaininh movie, but scattered performances, dull moments, weak plotting and stupid moments wiegh down water could have been a fantastic film. 4.5 out of 6.
Spitting Bullets and Drinking Cactus Juice: Rango Review:
Rango follows a story that we've all heard at one point or another. Hero lies about who he is to become popular. Hero gets a big head. Hero is found out to be a fraud and leaves. Hero then returns to save the day after a moment of reflection. And yet, Rango is a highly enjoyable movie elevated by a great script and a great cast. Johnny Depp is very good as the immensely likeable Rango. Isla Fisher is good as Rango love interest, Bean. And everyone else is usually entertaining. The humor and story could have been dumbed down for kids but it's not. In fact, if anything, Rango is not a movie for kids. People die at the drop of a hat and the language may be too much for 7 or 8 year olds. Another good thing worth noting is a wonderful cameo moment that ranks up there with Zombieland's awesome cameo. Overall, Rango may not be for kids, but for everyone else, it's one fun and exciting ride, however on is left with a sour taste in their mouth after watching this film. 3 out of 6.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" Review
BUBBLE, BUBBLE, BIOL AND SPOILERS! THIS IS A SPOILER WARNING!
The Review: Now first off, if you're wondering why there is no Introduction part of this review, it's because, by now, you know who Harry Potter is and what this film is about, and if you don't know who Harry Potter is, then at this point, you're not going to care what it's about.
So, now, after 10 years, 7 films and billions of dollars, the Harry Potter series draws to a close with the 8th and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Before I get to the bad stuff let me just say, yes, this is the best of the Harry Potter series. It's a great movie and if you are a fan of the books, then it's all you could have dreamed of and so much more. But, that doesn't mean it's without it's flaws.
The biggest flaw of the film is the fans. Not the fans of the books. No, but people, like me, who have never read a single Harry Potter book and has only watched the movies. Not that if you haven't read the books, you'll hate this movie. More, if you haven't read the books, you notice problems that book fans might not. Like how the characters romantic relashionships still don't feel right. Now, maybe I missed something, but, through the entire movie series I thought that the main couple would be Harry and Harmione. Harry's romance with his best friend's sister, Ginny, never really felt right to me. Nor did Ron and Harmione either.
Another problem is the introduction of character that we've never met before going unexplained and the deaths of major characters happening off screen. Which leads me to my biggest problem with this film. If this is the big epic conclusion, then why does the film ignore that fact?
Between characters dying then hardly getting another mention and major plot points going unseen (Like suddenly, Voldemort has kidnapped Hagrid. Glad we weren't even told of that fact. Doesn't really seem inportant.), the film acts as though there are still more movies to come. There's no long good-byes scene. There no "Gee, this is really the end" moment in this film. Hell, when Harry kills Voldemort, there's not even a scene of people celebrating. It just is never spoken of again.
Not that this film doesn't have it's fair share of touching moments. The scene you'll love the most is the final tear-jerking epilouge. For me, however, it was the scene where Harry watches Snape memories, because of those "Ah, it all make sense now" moments that I personally love and it felyt as though it brought the series full circle.
The Verdict: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is the finale fans have been waiting for. Filled with great action, acting and touching moment, it is the best Harry Potter film to date. However, due to the film's unexplained deaths and plot points and it's odd fear of acknowledging the fact that it's the end, the highest rating I can give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is: 5 out of 6.
The Review: Now first off, if you're wondering why there is no Introduction part of this review, it's because, by now, you know who Harry Potter is and what this film is about, and if you don't know who Harry Potter is, then at this point, you're not going to care what it's about.
So, now, after 10 years, 7 films and billions of dollars, the Harry Potter series draws to a close with the 8th and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Before I get to the bad stuff let me just say, yes, this is the best of the Harry Potter series. It's a great movie and if you are a fan of the books, then it's all you could have dreamed of and so much more. But, that doesn't mean it's without it's flaws.
The biggest flaw of the film is the fans. Not the fans of the books. No, but people, like me, who have never read a single Harry Potter book and has only watched the movies. Not that if you haven't read the books, you'll hate this movie. More, if you haven't read the books, you notice problems that book fans might not. Like how the characters romantic relashionships still don't feel right. Now, maybe I missed something, but, through the entire movie series I thought that the main couple would be Harry and Harmione. Harry's romance with his best friend's sister, Ginny, never really felt right to me. Nor did Ron and Harmione either.
Another problem is the introduction of character that we've never met before going unexplained and the deaths of major characters happening off screen. Which leads me to my biggest problem with this film. If this is the big epic conclusion, then why does the film ignore that fact?
Between characters dying then hardly getting another mention and major plot points going unseen (Like suddenly, Voldemort has kidnapped Hagrid. Glad we weren't even told of that fact. Doesn't really seem inportant.), the film acts as though there are still more movies to come. There's no long good-byes scene. There no "Gee, this is really the end" moment in this film. Hell, when Harry kills Voldemort, there's not even a scene of people celebrating. It just is never spoken of again.
Not that this film doesn't have it's fair share of touching moments. The scene you'll love the most is the final tear-jerking epilouge. For me, however, it was the scene where Harry watches Snape memories, because of those "Ah, it all make sense now" moments that I personally love and it felyt as though it brought the series full circle.
The Verdict: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is the finale fans have been waiting for. Filled with great action, acting and touching moment, it is the best Harry Potter film to date. However, due to the film's unexplained deaths and plot points and it's odd fear of acknowledging the fact that it's the end, the highest rating I can give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is: 5 out of 6.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" Review
Look up in the sky! It's raining Spoilers! THIS IS A SPOILER WARNING!
Introduction: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is based off of the children's book of the same name that was written by Judi and Ron Barrett. Both the book and the film follows an inventor, Flint (Played by Bill Hader) after he invents a machine that turns water into food. After a mishap involving a power station, the machine is sent up to the sky, where it starts making it rain food. However, when the food starts to get bigger and bigger, it's up to Flint to save the town. The film also stars Anna Faris as a reporter (and Flint's love interest), Bruce Campbell as the Mayor, Mr. T as a police officer and Neil Patrick Harris as a talking monkey.
The Review: This film is very similar to The Polar Express in that it's based off of a short book, therefore making me wonder if it will be able to support a feature-length runtime. However while Express could, Cloudy couldn't. You see, Express increased it's runtime by building on to the original story by adding new, interesting characters and by going deeper into the train ride than the book did. Cloudy on the other hand, boosts it's runtime by dragging scenes on for too long.
Take for example the end of the movie. Flint is about to destroy the machine by sending a kill code through the machine that tells the other machine what to do. (It makes more sense in the movie. Kind of.) However when the Mayor destroys the machine, Flint rebuilds his flying car to deliver the kill code manually. (Why he didn't just rebuilt the machine that could send the code is a mystery.) Then, while he's in the flying the car to the machine, he drops the kill code out of the window. So, then he gets his father to e-mail the kill code to his cell phone. But, the father doesn't know how to use e-mail. So, Flint walks his father through it, but then the computer gets destroyed. BUT THEN, his father some how sends the email even though the computer is destroyed. BUT THEN, it turns out his father e-mailed him the wrong thing. So, Flint ends up just cloging the machine to make it expolde, therefore making every scene with the kill code, entirely pointless.
The film also increases it's runtime by have an over-abundence of jokes. While yes the movie is funny, I couldn't help but fell like I did while I was watching the Cars Toons. You know, I enjoyed the shorts, but the whole time I was painfully aware of the fact that these shorts were made just to make more toys. With Cloudy, I did enjoy the jokes, but the whole time I was painfully aware of the fact that they are making these jokes is just to make the movie longer. I mean the best way to put is is like this. Imagine I give you a piece of cake that tastes like cardboard, but I cover the cake in good-tasting frosting. Sure, the frosting's good but it doesn't make the cake not taste like cardboard. Now just replace the cake with a movie and the frosting with jokes and you get Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.
The Verdict: Overall, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a funny film, but it's plot is paper-thin and it just goes on for too long. It's would have been better if it were an hour and 15 minute direct-to-DVD film. 3.5 out of 6.
Introduction: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is based off of the children's book of the same name that was written by Judi and Ron Barrett. Both the book and the film follows an inventor, Flint (Played by Bill Hader) after he invents a machine that turns water into food. After a mishap involving a power station, the machine is sent up to the sky, where it starts making it rain food. However, when the food starts to get bigger and bigger, it's up to Flint to save the town. The film also stars Anna Faris as a reporter (and Flint's love interest), Bruce Campbell as the Mayor, Mr. T as a police officer and Neil Patrick Harris as a talking monkey.
The Review: This film is very similar to The Polar Express in that it's based off of a short book, therefore making me wonder if it will be able to support a feature-length runtime. However while Express could, Cloudy couldn't. You see, Express increased it's runtime by building on to the original story by adding new, interesting characters and by going deeper into the train ride than the book did. Cloudy on the other hand, boosts it's runtime by dragging scenes on for too long.
Take for example the end of the movie. Flint is about to destroy the machine by sending a kill code through the machine that tells the other machine what to do. (It makes more sense in the movie. Kind of.) However when the Mayor destroys the machine, Flint rebuilds his flying car to deliver the kill code manually. (Why he didn't just rebuilt the machine that could send the code is a mystery.) Then, while he's in the flying the car to the machine, he drops the kill code out of the window. So, then he gets his father to e-mail the kill code to his cell phone. But, the father doesn't know how to use e-mail. So, Flint walks his father through it, but then the computer gets destroyed. BUT THEN, his father some how sends the email even though the computer is destroyed. BUT THEN, it turns out his father e-mailed him the wrong thing. So, Flint ends up just cloging the machine to make it expolde, therefore making every scene with the kill code, entirely pointless.
The film also increases it's runtime by have an over-abundence of jokes. While yes the movie is funny, I couldn't help but fell like I did while I was watching the Cars Toons. You know, I enjoyed the shorts, but the whole time I was painfully aware of the fact that these shorts were made just to make more toys. With Cloudy, I did enjoy the jokes, but the whole time I was painfully aware of the fact that they are making these jokes is just to make the movie longer. I mean the best way to put is is like this. Imagine I give you a piece of cake that tastes like cardboard, but I cover the cake in good-tasting frosting. Sure, the frosting's good but it doesn't make the cake not taste like cardboard. Now just replace the cake with a movie and the frosting with jokes and you get Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.
The Verdict: Overall, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a funny film, but it's plot is paper-thin and it just goes on for too long. It's would have been better if it were an hour and 15 minute direct-to-DVD film. 3.5 out of 6.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Return of the Mini-Reviews
I am still on vacation untill the end of the week, but I've got a computer long enough to give my thoughts on 2 movies, starting with:
SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE
If you were thinking of passing up this movie and filing it as just another lame romantic comedy, that you sir and/or madam, are a fool. She's Out of My League is a very funny comedy boosted by one of the most likable cast in a long time. The comedy works because the cast is funny and the film thankfully stays away from resting mainly on gross-out jokes. The romance is believeable as well because the lead actually feel like they would fall in love. Overall, an above-average romantic comedy with a great cast. 4.5 out of 6.
DATE NIGHT
If you were going to pass off this movie as just another cliched action-comedy, then you... are correct actually. Date Night plays through every action-comedy cliche in the book, and it doesn't do it particularlly well with them. The film is just not funny. The cast looks like they are actually trying, but the material they are given is subpar at best. The only funny scene is near the with a NYC cab driver. Overall, while the cast is trying, Date Night just is not funny. 2 out of 6.
I know 2 reviews aren't a lot, but when I return from my vacation, I will have new Cinema Wins and Cinema Sins, reviews of Super 8 and the Tron films and I will introduce an all-new series.
See You Later
SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE
If you were thinking of passing up this movie and filing it as just another lame romantic comedy, that you sir and/or madam, are a fool. She's Out of My League is a very funny comedy boosted by one of the most likable cast in a long time. The comedy works because the cast is funny and the film thankfully stays away from resting mainly on gross-out jokes. The romance is believeable as well because the lead actually feel like they would fall in love. Overall, an above-average romantic comedy with a great cast. 4.5 out of 6.
DATE NIGHT
If you were going to pass off this movie as just another cliched action-comedy, then you... are correct actually. Date Night plays through every action-comedy cliche in the book, and it doesn't do it particularlly well with them. The film is just not funny. The cast looks like they are actually trying, but the material they are given is subpar at best. The only funny scene is near the with a NYC cab driver. Overall, while the cast is trying, Date Night just is not funny. 2 out of 6.
I know 2 reviews aren't a lot, but when I return from my vacation, I will have new Cinema Wins and Cinema Sins, reviews of Super 8 and the Tron films and I will introduce an all-new series.
See You Later
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mini-Review Madness
Over the holiday weekend I saw a good amount of movies. And because I'm lazy instead of reviewing each one sepreately I decided to group them all together, starting with...
KUNG FU PANDA 2
With what I knew of this sequel, going into theaters I wasn't very excited. The trailers looked like the film didn't have much going on and what it did have was a rehash of the first one. However I was happily proven wrong as the sequel did everything a sequel should do. It was bigger, riskier and, above all, better than the first. Overall, one of the must see films of the summer. 6 out of 6.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
Finally. We have a good video game movie. The action is great. The cast is great The effects are great. The problem is the rest of the movie is very generic. It's all been done better by something else. Even the action gets boring toward the end. This is always going to be a problem with video game movies. Games "borrow" so much from movies and other games that when they make a movie about it it just ends up "borrowing" from other movies. 3.5 out of 6
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Sweeney Todd is an odd movie. That's probably because Director Tim Burton likes to make odd movies. How much you like the movie is entirely going to depend on how much you like Tim Burton. I myself have alway been on the fence, but I think if I were to fall somewhere it would be "Not a Fan". I've never really thought any of his movies were worth more than a "meh" and Sweeney Todd is no exception. The music and scenery are nice, but everything else is just not that interesting save one of the best musical moment I've ever seen with Epiphany. 3.5 out of 6
That's all for now. See you later.
KUNG FU PANDA 2
With what I knew of this sequel, going into theaters I wasn't very excited. The trailers looked like the film didn't have much going on and what it did have was a rehash of the first one. However I was happily proven wrong as the sequel did everything a sequel should do. It was bigger, riskier and, above all, better than the first. Overall, one of the must see films of the summer. 6 out of 6.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
Finally. We have a good video game movie. The action is great. The cast is great The effects are great. The problem is the rest of the movie is very generic. It's all been done better by something else. Even the action gets boring toward the end. This is always going to be a problem with video game movies. Games "borrow" so much from movies and other games that when they make a movie about it it just ends up "borrowing" from other movies. 3.5 out of 6
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Sweeney Todd is an odd movie. That's probably because Director Tim Burton likes to make odd movies. How much you like the movie is entirely going to depend on how much you like Tim Burton. I myself have alway been on the fence, but I think if I were to fall somewhere it would be "Not a Fan". I've never really thought any of his movies were worth more than a "meh" and Sweeney Todd is no exception. The music and scenery are nice, but everything else is just not that interesting save one of the best musical moment I've ever seen with Epiphany. 3.5 out of 6
That's all for now. See you later.
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